Mission: Survival

June 9, 2013June 9, 2013Amber 19 Comments

I began writing this post several months ago when the NICU director from Cook Children’s Hospital asked George and I to speak at an upcoming event about infant mortality. I abandoned it for fear of seeming lackluster or coming off as conceited. However, I’ve recently come into contact with several expectant mothers of multiples and think this post is worth finishing.

Apparently Dallas and Tarrant counties boast the worst infant mortality rates in Texas and some of the worst in the United States. I stumbled across articles from The Star Telegram and Washington Post that mention some startling statistics. According to current research, it appears that prenatal care is one of the most critical factors. The NICU director felt that George and I made sound decisions early on to help me carry the babies as far as possible for the betterment of everyone’s health. Reflecting back on the dog days of my pregnancy, here are some of the things I feel were beneficial.

1. Got into Shape Beforehand

When family building did not come as easily as anticipated, George and I decided to change our lifestyle to one of health and wellness. We figured if we were dealing with infertility we knew we were in for a journey and better prepare. I mean, you wouldn’t attempt to run a marathon without getting into shape first. Just like a marathon, pregnancy is difficult on the body. After scheduling routine physicals and catching up on vaccines, we developed an exercise regime. Together, we took kickboxing classes twice weekly and I practiced yoga three days a week. Additionally, we made an effort to eat well. We cooked fresh foods at home most of the time and rarely ate out. I can honestly say I was in the best shape of my life just before becoming pregnant with the quads, even better than I was at 18.

2. We found “the quad guy”

The day of our initial sonogram with the quads, we knew we needed the best doctor for the job. My RE referred us to a perinatologist who had experience with high order multiples, including several sets of quadruplets. All of my prenatal visits were exclusively with my perinatologist.

This was our first ultrasound and the only time all four babies were captured in one image.

3. Educated Ourselves and Found Support

Together, we made an effort to educate ourselves about pregnancy, especially regarding multiple gestation. This included close communication with my perinatologist. I read several books, including The Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy, which was my favorite one. I read a few books about twins, but chucked them when they only mentioned terrifying things about high order multiples. Fear was not helpful to me. The single best advice I received from Dr. Tabor was to look up Steece’s Pieces, a blog maintained by a former patient who also had quadruplets. I read the archives of her blog many times over to help cope with bed rest and the future with four babies. I kept contact with other mothers of quadruplets, both expectant and mothers of older children. They served as a resource for “Is this normal with quads?” and served as a sounding board. In fact, this wonderful group continues to serve as a resource for raising quadruplets.

4. Made Calories Count

During my pregnancy, my doctor advised a diet of approximately 3,000 calories. This included the usual 1,800 calories for me and an additional 300 calories per baby. I could have easily met the 3,000 mark with a few Whoppers and Blizzards, but I knew that what I ate was for the babies. I wanted those calories to count. I kept a variety of healthy snacks in my office (when I was working) and at home. I noshed on things such as Greek yogurt (high in protein and calcium), nuts, fresh fruits and veggies, popcorn (high in fiber), cheese sticks, and protein shakes.

3. Kept Hydrated

I also drank water by the gallon. If a visitor ever asked what she could do for me, I would ask for a refill on both of my large Tervis Tumblers. Staying hydrated was critical to keep contractions at bay and to help keep amniotic fluid levels stable (Sydney’s fluids were low at several appointments). I veered away from most other beverages, particularly caffeinated drinks. Popsicles, however were a fun source of fluids especially in the Texas heat.

Can you spot the two Tervis Tumblers on my nightstand? They remained at my side the duration of my pregnancy.

5. Popped Approved Supplements

Prior to taking any medication or supplements, I consulted with my perinatologist. I have a blood clotting disorder called MTHFR and was prescribed a mega dose of folic acid and low dose aspirin to manage it. In addition to those, I also took gummy prenatal vitamins (I could not keep the regular ones down so I opted for gummies) plus calcium and iron.

6. Listened to My Body

Just prior to being put on bed rest, I could feel my body become increasingly taxed. After years of practicing yoga, I knew it was critical to listen to my body. If I felt dizzy or fatigued, I simply rested. It did not matter if I was at work walking to a classroom or at Walmart. I literally found a suitable place to sit and I took deep cleansing breaths as I rested. When I felt normal again, I took care to rise slowly and carry on. When I felt thirsty or hungry, I took care of those needs. I never pushed myself beyond what I felt my body could manage even though that is something I tend to do. I knew that pregnancy was not the time to test my limits or try a bit harder.

7. Tossed My Pride Out the Window

I am a highly independent person and I struggle to accept help. However, with a high risk pregnancy, I knew it was necessary to swallow my pride. When I was working full time, I was not ashamed to prop my feet on a box at my desk, to sip water during meetings, or to roll my ergonomic chair to conference tables. The weeks just before bed rest, I wanted to do a lot of “nesting” but knew I needed to be wary of overdoing it. When I went shopping, I did the unthinkable and used the store’s power chairs. It was totally embarrassing zipping around in those, but it was good practice being noticed in public. Looking back, it was probably more discreet for a pregnant girl to ride in a power chair than for me to push a stroller limo loaded with four babies now! For the first time in my life I also let the bag boy at the grocery store load my car and I let people do things for me at home. When I was bed ridden it pained me to sit idle while other people cooked and cleaned, but I knew that was for the best.

Oh yeah, here I am rocking the Target power chair!

Here is an instance where I had to let George and my father in law handle something I wanted to do: organize the nursery closets.

8. Obeyed Orders

I am a rule follower in pretty much every aspect of my life, from turning library books in on time to coming to a complete stop at stop signs. Pregnancy was no different. I did EXACTLY as directed. When put on strict bed rest, I took it seriously. I literally stayed in my bed except to go to the bathroom and shower. After the first few weeks of strict bed rest, George impassingly mentioned to Dr. Tabor that I had not been in the kitchen. Dr. Tabor was literally stunned that I followed his orders exactly. I suspect this is one of the reasons I was not admitted to the hospital (rumor has it that Dr. Tabor prefers to admit mothers of high order multiples early so he can keep an eye on them).

This was my bed rest set up complete with Snoogle and laptop. I later swapped the laptop for a secondhand ipad, which was much lighter and easier to manage.

This was my bed rest set up complete with Snoogle pillow, wedge pillow, and laptop. I later swapped the laptop for a secondhand ipad, which was much lighter and easier to manage.

We kept the mini fridge and microwave from my office at my bed side. George stocked it nightly so I could easily access snacks in the day. You’ll notice a notepad, Ziploc of snacks, wallet, and book on my nightstand as well. I kept a running list of things I wanted to accomplish each day so that I did not feel like a sloth. I read to keep my mind busy and nested by shopping online for the babies (hence the wallet next to the Ziploc).

9. Researched the NICU

Because quads are always delivered prematurely (34 weeks is usually the furthest they can be carried), we knew there would be a NICU stay. Early on in the pregnancy, George and I compared the NICU facilities in our area and took tours. We made the decision to have the babies transferred to the nearest children’s hospital (Cook Children’s). While we knew our delivery hospital could provide outstanding medical care, we felt that the children’s hospital would better meet the needs of our family and provided a family centered approach. I encourage all expectant parents, especially those in high risk situations, to be aware of the NICU facilities available to them. Even parents with one baby and no known risks can have surprise NICU stay. Being aware of options ahead of time can serve you well in the future.

10. Summoned the Power of Prayer

Pregnancy can be a stressful time, and pregnancy with high order multiples is exponentially risky and stressful. Despite knowing all of the risks involved, George and I remained calm as possible. He and I both knew that letting stress take over would be to the detriment of me and the babies. To the best of our ability, we did everything we knew to maintain everyone’s health. However, we knew it was not fully under our control. We left the rest up to God. People near and far prayed specifically for us and for specific situations such as when Sydney’s fluids were low. Via this blog, I communicated very specific needs and I know that people heard them, adding them to prayer lists. Just recently, a neighbor stopped us during an evening walk. She exclaimed, “Oh you are the family I prayed for! A neighbor told me someone was expecting quadruplets and needed prayer. I prayed for these babies.”

Knowing the risks involved carrying four babies, George and I do not take our babies’ health for granted. We count our blessings every day. This was a special moment when all babies were reunited for the first time since delivery. They were four weeks old.

Ultimately I did everything in my power to sustain my pregnancy as long as possible and to give the babies the best chances I could. I never wanted to look back and wonder “what if”. However, every mother and baby is unique. Some mothers do everything perfectly and outcomes are not as good as ours. Other mothers seem to make all the wrong choices and yet everything is problem free. The best advice I can offer if you are expecting one baby or seven babies is to do your best to make sound decisions for yourself and your babies.

hugs!

Amber

The Little Things Thursdays: Installment #18

June 6, 2013Amber 2 Comments

Yesterday a mom from our online group posted a picture of her quintuplets in graduation regalia with a quote stating, “The days are long, but the years are short.” How true that is! Some days raising quadruplets seem incredibly LONG, yet their first year is flashing right before us. All the more reason to savor the little things and link up with A Beautiful Ruckus.

1. For the first time ever, George and I split the crew. We took Harper and Rylin to a friend’s house for a family barbeque. Meanwhile, Sydney and Mason stayed with Aunt CiCi and her friend, Leslie. I agonized about who would be the “chosen” ones and considered all possible scenarios. I ended up choosing Rylin since she rarely takes a good afternoon nap and Harper because he is a strong sitter (they planned to have a baby pool and I didn’t want a baby toppling over in it).

Playing man to man defense turned out to be a cake walk compared to the zone defense we’re accustomed to. When we bid our farewells at the party, a nagging feeling taunted me. I soon realized I was missing two kids! Sydney and Mason may have stayed home, but I don’t think they missed out; they got individual attention for an entire afternoon. Besides, they get to go next time we divide and conquer.

There were four babies at the party, but only two were mine! Rylin got her first kiss from the adorable little blonde. Actually, I think Harper also received a kiss from this kiddo. Hmm.

Leslie and Sydney

Aunt CiCi and Mason

2. All six of us enjoyed our first meal from the garden this season. My father in law shared some summer squash and George harvested a zucchini from our own garden. I sautéed both with onions and then simmered with diced tomatoes for our dinner. Then, I pureed the left overs for the babies. As it turns out, Sydney in particular has a sophisticated palate. She prefers our meals over the baby purees I’ve been serving and gobbled up as much as her big brother, Harper.

3. Monday was a rather trying day for me with the babies. Afternoon naps were brief and baby dispositions were noticeably foul. I simply had to escape the confines of our house so I devised a getaway plan. As the babies noshed on a few Cheerios, I loaded the van with Goodwill donation boxes, an ice chest, and a diaper bag. Then I swooped up each baby, buckled them into their car seats and loaded the van. After about 15-20 minutes we were on the open road. After ditching our Goodwill stash at the Donation Station, we dashed over to Sonic. I snagged a chocolate shake topped with a cherry and a bag of ice. It was a bit of an ordeal loading and unloading four babies for a measly shake and ice, but was totally worth it! We ALL needed a diversion.

It may have taken me close to an hour to grab a bag of ice, but it was worth every minute of effort. After all, Sonic ice is the best!

Those precious faces were not smiling just an hour prior to this picture. I had some seriously unhappy babies.

4. On Friday evening, Sydney had an occupational therapy session. Her therapist was pleased to find both goals were mastered: rolling over and sitting independently. However, I shared concern that unlike the other babies, Sydney wasn’t even attempting to pull up and relied solely upon army crawling. Sydney must have been listening because she got busy on Saturday. All of the sudden she started doing both things! Her therapist is in for a real surprise at her next visit when she sees Sydney crawling AND pulling up on her own volition.

Sydney is finding all sorts of things to pull up on from baskets to siblings.

5. I am far too cheap to pay for the version of WordPress, which supports video. However, I’ve been capturing the babies in action recently and started posting them on our Four to Adore Facebook page. With all four babies crawling I noticed they behave a lot like ducks following their mama around. After several outtakes, I finally (well, mostly) captured them crawling from their nurseries to the den. I love re-watching this footage because it makes me smile every time.

What bright spots filled your week?

Hugs!

Amber

The Little Things Thursday: Installment #17

May 30, 2013May 30, 2013Amber 18 Comments

When I was working full time, three day weekends always threw me for a loop. I’d either think it was one day ahead or behind the actual day. Despite the fact that I no longer work on Mondays, the Memorial Day holiday confused me yet again. I keep questioning what day it is. Low and behold, it’s THURSDAY! Of course that means it’s time to link up with Rebecca at A Beautiful Ruckus for the Little Things Thursdays.

1. In honor of Memorial Day, we dressed the babies in patriotic duds. While we didn’t celebrate with a traditional BBQ or splash in the pool, we took a trek to Target together as a family. Keeping up with their reputation for outings, the babies behaved beautifully. This time, George took Mason and Rylin in a twin stroller while I wore Sydney in the Baby Bjorn and put Harper in a shopping cart. That baby toting plan worked perfectly because we got almost no inquisitions and only a few admiring smiles.

2. Since Mason outgrew his initial DOC Band, we got his new one this week. George was not quite as inspired as with the first band as far as decorating goes. While, I lack his artistic prowess, I absolutely could not have Mason sporting a plain white clinical looking band. I took matters into my own hands and purchased star stickers at Hobby Lobby with some red acrylic paint. On his first night of band wearing, we painted three coats of red onto the band and attempted to affix the stars on it. My brilliant plan was foiled as the stars resisted adhering to the band and only scarred the red paint. For several days George and I rejected the design ideas of the other until we agreed on a dragon. 2012 was the Chinese Zodiac’s year of the “special dragon” so his band is homage to that.

3. Amber B. and I met up for play date round #2, which was a success. This time, her babies acclimated much faster than before and napped pretty well to boot. Rylin was not to be outdone by the Bell girls and decided to show off her Banshee scream during nap time. She finally conked out for about 20-30 minutes, which helped her power through the evening. Amber and I figure that the third time will be a charm and all things will be absolutely perfect (we can dream, right?). She posted some really cute pictures on Texas Tales, including one of seven of the eight babies enjoying an Elmo performance.

I captured seven of the eight babies in action. Can you account for all four Shawver babies? If you look to the right, two of the Bell girls are at the gate crawling towards Mama and I’m pretty sure Amber has the third girl.

4. After work yesterday evening, I was in a cantankerous mood for no apparent reason. I blatantly lashed out at George who was just trying to relish a bit of downtime. I wasn’t sure quite why I was irritable, but decided it was time for a glass of vino and some dark chocolate. In honor of Mother’s Day, our next door neighbor gifted me a bottle of wine from her personal winery. I decided it was an appropriate occasion for said bottle of wine. I enjoyed a glass with a few chocolate chips as I soaked my feet in a Mary Kay treatment while I skimmed a few magazines. Mood fixed! I really is the little things that can turn a day around. My demeanor was clear indication it was time to STOP and just relax for a moment.

Coincidentally, this bottle of wine is from July 2012, when the quads were born!

5. I’ve been at this blogging gig for over a year now, but still have TONS to learn. I finally figured out how to do links properly. In the past, I would just copy and paste the link so it looked something like this: My friend, Becky writes Our Multiples Journey here: http://ourmultiplesjourney.blogspot.com/ Sure, you can access the link, but it looks rather unappealing and cumbersome. Instead of that, I may say something such as, my friend, Krista, maintains a blog called The Littlest Lesnaus. Instead of pasting, you can just click on the title of her blog and BAM, you’re there! Cool huh?

What brought a smile to your face this week?

Hugs!

Amber

Mini Monets, Maybe

May 25, 2013Amber 6 Comments

This morning, I got a wild hair and decided to let the babies try their hands (literally) at painting. They’ve been doing hand and footprint art since they were in the NICU with the art therapist. Plus, our home proudly displays a frame of a seasonal painting courtesy of the wee ones. However, all artwork prior to today has consisted of an adult painting the babies’ feet or hands, then stamping them onto canvas, and decorating the little prints. Here is some of their previous work-

This is my favorite piece of baby art so far. We used the babies’ footprints to make robins for spring.

Here is our March artwork. I commissioned my friend, Jen, for this one.

A little heart art courtesy of eight baby feet!

We did a little art with the babies using their adorable footpritnts. We don't have tons of wall space for art, so we bought a frame and stack of canvases. We will make new art for the changing seasons.

We did this one in December for winter.

Today was different. Before lunch, I undressed everyone down to their diapers in preparation for paint splatter. After the munchkins finished gobbling lunch, I wiped their faces and the table. Next, I taped a piece of card stock in front of each one. Being the curious little creatures they are, the babies examined their paper and enjoyed slapping it. Paper itself is a bit boring in my opinion so I painted each babies’ hands a different color and stamped them onto the paper. Instead of wiping their little paws clean I let them go at it, slapping the paper and smearing it with paint. As usual, Sydney was not keen on the idea of paint on her hands. She cried HUGE tears until the paint dried a bit on her palms. The others thought it was great fun making a paint mess. Rylin thought it might taste decadent so she crammed her little fingers into her mouth. Ironically, she was the only baby to sample the paint. Don’t worry, we used non-toxic tempera paint because chances are whatever goes on the tiny hands goes into tiny mouths. When he was satisfied with his masterpiece, Harper decided to paint the seat belt on his chair. I think I can wash it….maybe! Of all the babies, Mason was the only one to do a little face paint on himself.

Everyone is clean and ready to make a mess!

Sydney composed herself by this point, but was screeching just seconds prior.

Ta da! These are the completed masterpieces. Sydney got some of Rylin’s paint to add dimension to her green piece.

Hugs!

Amber

The Little Things Thursdays: Installment #16

May 23, 2013Amber 8 Comments

This week, I have to admit I’m totally exhausted. George and I have been battling a refrigerator on the fritz amidst our typical chaos. However, I know in the scheme of things, the stresses of the week are totally insignificant. There are far greater problems in the world than our bit of drama. Instead, it is more worthwhile to remember this week’s highlights.

1. Saturday was a special day when Daddy got some solo time with the babies. He stayed home during lunch while I got a trim and went to Costco alone. I think it was his first time doing spoon feeds himself, but he managed perfectly! I think Saturday was a good bonding time for them, plus freedom for me.

I knew George was unlikely to snap pictures while I was away, so I caught one before I slipped away.

And, I captured another after my return. Loved this image of babies crawling over and around their Daddy.

2. Recently, George and I whined over our dilapidated social life. We love our babies and being with them, but spending time with our friends is infrequent. Leaving the babies for an evening poses challenges for us, as it does for any parent. Before the arrival of our babies, George and I often invited friends over for dinners, movies, and game nights (we love friendly competition). Now, our babies are all tucked snugly into bed by 8:00 pm, and the evenings are relatively quiet thereafter. There’s no reason we can’t host a dinner or game night now. Thus, we invited some of our board game playing friends, Rick and Holly over for a ~~classy~~ trashy dinner. On the menu: chili con queso, bacon dogs, and ice cream sundaes, all washed down with summer beer. It may not have been a fancy meal, but it was super easy to prepare and clean up; plus, it was a delicious nostalgic summery meal we all enjoyed. We intended on breaking out a few games, but had so much fun catching up we never got around to games.

Rick got a bit of snuggle time with the babies before it was lights out.

George, Rick, and Holly enjoying the grub!

Oh how I love an ice cream sundae topped with a cherry and sprinkles of course!

3. Sunday marked a special day for my cousin, Seth, as he was confirmed in the church. It was no easy, feat but we took ALL four babies to church with us. After all, it was a momentous occasion. The church members were so excited to finally meet the babies they prayed for since the early days of the pregnancy. In fact, the clergy was so thrilled to meet the quads, they wanted to take a picture with them! We were able to snap a quick one before the service began. After that, I fell down on the job and did not snap a single one. Keeping track of four now mobile babies in new places is a time consuming fiasco. I was slightly concerned about how the babies would handle being in a new place where they needed to be relatively quiet, and if they would startle from hearing loud music. They did GREAT! Mason was the only one taken out of the sanctuary (briefly), but it was because he was giggling too loudly. It didn’t hurt that a large portion of our extended family members were their to help hold and entertain babies.

The babies with the clergy of St. John Lutheran. Sydney was hesitant to be held by an unfamiliar person so I kept her while Harper visited many new faces.

What bits of sunshine brightened your week?

Hugs!

Amber

P.S. There’s still time to enter to win the Tiny Prints giveaway. It’s simple, just be sure to visit Tiny Prints, then click a Rafflecopter giveaway

It is mandatory to comment about your favorite baby shower invitation or announcement, but there are a few other ways to get extra entries (e.g. like our Four to Adore Facebook Page).

Tiny Prints Giveaway (closes 5/26/13)

May 20, 2013June 4, 2013Amber 11 Comments

If you’ve spent much time with us, you may have noticed the countdown ticker denoting the time remaining until the quads celebrate their first birthday. As of today, we have exactly two short months remaining. EEEKS!!!! That means it’s time to start planning the big bash. Planning a first birthday times four means we have so many considerations. Location? Theme? Number of cakes? It’s enough to make my head spin, but at the same time I’m thrilled! One of my favorite things about party planning is choosing and creating invitations. In the age of technology, we are increasingly reliant on electronic means of communication, but there is something nostalgic about receiving a letter in the mail. Of course, I would gladly do away with most other forms of snail mail such as um, bills.

i lined the babies up in birth order for their monthly birthday picture. This is what happened.

I lined the babies up in birth order for their 10 month birthday picture today. This is what happened.

And then this happened….both Rylin and Mason decided to show off their pulling up skills.

Finally we got the money shot! Four babies lined up in a crib. They got out of order, however. Oh well, I will take what I can get.

I simply adore how invitations set the tone for a party and help hype guests up for the event. When we receive an invitation, I proudly hang it on the side of our fridge and anticipate the upcoming event. At the moment we are displaying two first birthday invitations, which bring a smile to my face when I glance at them.

If you look carefully, you'll notice the two birthday invitations on our fridge right now.

Skim through our fridge clutter and you’ll spot the two invitations at the top of the fridge.. It is a bit distorted from the picture of a picture thing, but Noah’s invitation is for a little man party and he’s wearing a mustache, bow tie, and suit (swim) for the occasion. L-O-V-E it!

After receiving these two invitations, I started cruising Tiny Prints for inspiration. At first I felt defeated in trying to find a gender neutral invitation that would fit all four babies, but Tiny Prints does not disappoint. They actually have TONS of trendy design options and many are gender neutral. As indecisive as I can be, it’s not going to be easy to select just one. Plus, all of Tiny Prints invitations and announcements are customizable. That means I’m not stuck with choosing one of their sample first birthday invitations, which are typically designed for one boy OR one girl, or at best twins. They have a wide selection to choose from, and I can pick a design from any category (e.g. baby shower invitations) and then tailor wording to our unique situation. On top of all the nifty invitation and card design options, Tiny Prints also has coordinating address labels, gift tags, and thank you cards. Goodness knows I don’t have a lot of spare time to manage separate orders so I’m thinking coordinating labels and thank you notes are fantastic! It will take me days if not weeks to make my final invitation selection so I might as well order the added accessories.

Since we have a special affinity for sea turtles, I like this option for the babies.

Since we have a special affinity for sea turtles, this invitation is a contender for me.

Now that we have four sitters, I also wanted to snap a picture of everyone sitting. My little crawlers disagreed with me.

A little persistance and a fast finger finally captured all four babies sitting.

A little persistence and a fast finger finally captured all four babies sitting. Of course, Mason is not looking but again I will take what I can get.

While we are preparing a first birthday bash, Tiny Prints is currently running a baby campaign for their fresh line of baby shower invitations and baby announcements, which are worth checking out. It’s hard to believe that just one year ago today I went into hibernation for ten excruciating weeks of bed rest. At the time, safety and health of me and the babies was uncertain and taken day by day. Despite my bed rest circumstance, our friends and family helped us prepare for the arrival of four babies. They lifted my spirits and eased my mind by hosting baby showers. By the time the quads made their debut, George and I had a decent stockpile of baby essentials thanks to our friends and family. While on bed rest, I helped pass the time by documenting each baby shower and now I look back at that time in amazement. I took a stroll down memory lane and pulled up all the old posts about my baby showers. In all, there were five showers hosted by Bonnie Brae, Springdale, Melissa, Nekedria & Terra, Lindsay & Jennifer, and finally Terri, Kaylie, Kelsey & Courtney. I’m sure that seems excessive, but we were expecting FOUR babies, and four babies need a lot of gear.

In order to win the giveaway, simply visit:

Tiny Prints baby shower invitations

Tiny Prints birth announcements

Then click:a Rafflecopter giveaway to enter. The contest closes 5/26/13 at 12:00 am central time.

Good luck!

Amber

Thank you to TinyPrints.com for sponsoring this giveaway! Four to Adore received a gift card in exchange for hosting. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Quads x 2!

May 18, 2013May 26, 2013Amber 10 Comments

When I learned that the Bell Quad Squad planned to relocate to the Dallas area I was ecstatic. I envisioned epic quad play dates plus some adult time with parents in the trenches. A few months ago, the Bells finally made the big move up here. However, I presumed they were overwhelmed with moving quadruplets across state, searching for a new home, and fielding visitors. The last thing I wanted to do was pounce on an already over extended family. Last week, I knew it was time for the epic quad play date. The tell-tell sign was Amber’s Facebook post of herself sitting in the apartment lawn encircled by to Exersaucers, a Jumparoo, and a quilt littered with baby toys. I know that we can feel cabin fever from being cramped in our house. I can’t imagine contending with 11 month old mobile quadruplets in a two bedroom apartment, even just temporarily. I messaged Amber to see if she was up for the adventure and she happily accepted the challenge.

As it turns out, planning a quad play date is quite an undertaking. Amber and I messaged back and forth for a solid three days before the big event. Topics of consideration included schedules, getting lunch for ourselves, and what Amber should pack (or not). After a lot of banter, we hatched a fool-proof plan. At first we were frustrated by seemingly opposite feed and nap schedules. However it worked out rather well in the end. Prior to their arrival, I set up our four pack ‘n’ plays in our study and master bedroom while Amber loaded her Suburban across town. While she was en route, Amber stopped by Chick Fil A to snag some lunch for the Mamas (Hooray for that!).

Amber arrived with babies in tow just as my crew began waking from their morning nap. As I settled my babies in the feeding table, Amber let her four acclimate to their new surroundings. They seemed to enjoy their new surroundings and became comfortable quickly, with the exception of Logan. Poor Logan was having an “off” day and was less than pleased with the whole ruckus of eight babies. I’ll admit, I expected there to be one or more unhappy babies and figured one or more would likely be mine. I was relieved that there was only one unhappy camper in the bunch and she didn’t belong to me (sorry Amber B!) Not bad to have only one baby fuss given the circumstances. There was one Shawver family member that was far more upset than Logan though. Lily protested being quarantined on the opposite side of the fence. I haven’t a clue why a Yorkie would want to roam about with EIGHT babies crawling at her and grabbing her. Most of the day, babies took turns peering through the bars of the gate at Lily as she whined about her situation.

Mason leaned how to pull up to stand in order to get a better view of Lily.

Logan just wanted a little extra TLC from Mama.

After my babies gobbled up their lunch, I practically hosed the table down and we traded out babies. It wasn’t long before Amber had all four of her babies fed that we had all eight babies in the den for official play time. For the first time, I thought our den resembled a day care class, but I loved it. The babies spent time exploring on their own and also noticing unfamiliar faces and toys. Amber brought some of their favorite toys along for familiarity, but they fascinated my babies with novelty. Her toys made me once again realize I underestimate my babies’ abilities. Rylin surprised me when she rolled a bus on the hard wood and they all enjoyed the rocking horse. It looks like George and I will be searching for some riding toys and the buses housed in storage will soon appear.

Since the babies were on slightly different schedules, we were able to share our quad feeding table.

Sydney, Mason, and Harper were enamored with this spinning toy.

Harper discovered a new way to play with an Exersaucer, but Rylin was not impressed with his antics.

Mason visiting Logan while Trystan posed for this one.

Kailey strolled by to visit Rylin in the Exersaucer.

Oh the rocking horse was great fun!

Despite all of the babies (especially Rylin) having “stranger danger”, they all seemed to know that the other Amber was okay. Rylin and Sydney crawled right up to Amber and engaged her as if they were old friends and Harrison buddied up to me like we’ve known each other for years.

Rylin saying “hello” to Amber.

Harrison was quite the little snuggle bug.

Later Sydney took a turn visiting with Amber.

To both Mama’s delight, we managed to get ALL eight babies to nap simultaneously! It started with protests from many, but even Amber’s babies in the new place settled. Amber and I enjoyed the bit of peace as we ate our own lunches and enjoyed grown up conversation together.

Amber was thrilled to find four sleeping babies in pack ‘n’ plays.

I was equally happy to find my four snugged up in their cribs.

As babies woke from slumber, Amber and I snatched them up one at a time to keep them from disturbing others. Once all eight were up it was play time again. I’m not sure how much time passed, but at some point good moods faded and Amber inquired, “Do you have a Baby Einstein?” I’m not sure if you’ve ever witnessed a baby watching one of those DVDs, but they are magical. As soon as the music filled the den, eight little heads turned towards the television and sixteen eyes fixed on the screen. We took the opportunity to line all eight babies up to snap a picture. Of course still and quiet babies was short lived. It did not take long for Mason and Kailey to escape for greener pastures, but it was nice while it lasted and it helped the fussing cease. About the time Logan felt at ease and relaxed, it was time for the Bell babies afternoon bottle and dash to beat rush hour traffic. Quad mamas are forced to be efficient, but there is one thing more efficient than a quad mama: TWO quad mamas! In a flurry, we had the den tidy, babies fed and changed, four babies in cribs and four more loaded into a Suburban in record time. It was a successful quad play date for all! We’re looking forward to a repeat of the action and maybe even a play date with Quadfathers included.

Some how all eight babies gravitated to this toy at once! Amber and I took turns helping everyone stay balanced so the other could snap pictures.

Yes, this is all eight babies in a row.

When they weren’t dog piled, the babies seemed to enjoy independent exploration.

While the day was a success, I was tuckered out by the end of it. By the time our babies were tucked into bed for the night, I decided it was time to wind down with a crisp glass of pinot grigio and a warm chocolate chip cookie. Well deserved, I think.

Amber B. also wrote an account of our day at Texas Tales: Two Ambers = Eight Babies! She has a couple of cute videos you’ll want to watch if you’ve got a minute to spare.

Hugs!

Amber

The Little Things Thursdays: Installment #15

May 15, 2013Amber 8 Comments

Hooray, it’s time for The Little Things Thursdays!

1. After spoon feeds, I am always trying to find new ways to occupy the babies while I tidy up the kitchen. Finger foods entertain them quite well, but afterwards I have to clean the babies and table again. That’s not productive. Sometimes toys do the trick, but my new favorite thing to do is give the babies kitchen utensils. Apparently spoons and spatulas are fascinating to babies. On the downside, they also discovered the joy of gravity and I found myself repeatedly scooping up dropped things. To remedy that, I started using pacifier clips to strap them to the babies’ seats. Works like a charm!

2. When the babies are sleeping, I usually pull the doors closed so they don’t disturb each other. However, today when I began putting babies down for naps, I found the dogs posted by the cribs as if they were guarding the babies. I thought it was sweet, I let them stay and kept the doors open. When Mason began blowing raspberries, Sasha changed loyalty to the girls (she is terrified of unusual noises).

3. With the arrival of spring and summer on its heels, I’ve been really bothered by my toes. I loathe unpainted toenails at any point in the year, but in the warm months I just can’t take it. I enjoy wearing flip-flops and open toed shoes so painted toe nails are a must for me. Recently, the babies have been cramping my style. If I get a rare moment to paint them, chances are I won’t stay still long enough for them to dry well. The salon is an even more rare luxury. I gave the Sally Hansen salon effects strips a whirl this week and really liked them. They are a bit of a trick to apply, but required zero dry time and have a nifty design I could never create myself. The box claims they’ll last two weeks. I’m one week in and they look decent still.

4. A while back, my cousin loaned us some of her favorite baby toys. We’ve been enjoying the rattles and tiny baby toys for a while, but this week I brought some of the more exciting ones from storage. Novelty rocks a baby’s world so they were totally enamored with the new things. I like to keep toys fresh so I’ve been rotating the new and old ones this week.

Check out how all four babies are playing with this single toy at once. They are really into opening and closing doors and flipping switches,so this one was a crowd pleaser. As an added bonus, this toy tells the babies what it is doing (e.g. The door is open.”) and it sings catchy tunes.

We’ve had this one out before, but I brought it out again today and the babies literally swarmed it. Mobility is amazing!

5. I’ve never cared much for our back door. It has a large window running the length of it that is usually decorated with doggy nose prints or muddy paw remnants. However, Mason enjoys gazing through the window so I’ve found a new place in my heart for the old door. The only problem is that he gets into this position easily, but tends to get stuck.

6. When I began writing this blog, I created a page for frequently asked questions. After hearing the same questions repeatedly, I compiled the most common ones. However, I wonder what questions you may have. Send me your wonderings and I’ll compile them into a new post and updated page. George and I are open books for the most part, but please use your manners when asking questions. I can’t wait to hear what you’ve been dying to find out!

Hugs!

Amber

Mother’s Day

May 14, 2013Amber 8 Comments

Just two years ago, I was uncertain when and if I would ever celebrate Mother’s Day as a mother myself. I never could have fathomed having four children. let alone all at once. What a difference two years makes! This year, I celebrated Mother’s Day with Rylin, Harper, Sydney & Mason who were once nothing more than a dream. In honor of Mother’s Day, George and I surprised my Mom with a visit to her and her mother too. My Mom has always been there for me, and even more so in the last several years. She cried with me during the struggles of infertility and lifted me up in prayer. She worried on my behalf as I endured a high risk pregnancy with quadruplets and then the weeks to follow with preemies in the NICU. Every week, she unselfishly helps us care for the babies and dotes upon them. She learned that through example from my Grandma who did the very same things for her children. I am thankful to have those strong examples before me and I hope to mother my children as well as my own mother. With another Mother’s Day come and gone, I am grateful for our babies and I pray for those still longing to see their own rainbow babies and for those who said goodbye to their babies far too soon.

Unfortunately, our visit to Grandma’s was brief. However, we made sure Grandma got a chance to hold each baby. When one got fussy, we swapped them out.

I always cherish multi-generational pictures.

Mom wanted to get a group shot at her house, but the quads disagreed as it was “witching hour”. I’m keeping it real here, this is what happens around 6:00 pm.

hugs!

Amber

The Little Things Thursdays: Installment #14

May 9, 2013Amber 8 Comments

Happy Thursday! Once again, it’s time to link up with Rebecca at ABeautifulRuckus.com for The Little Things Thursday. Each week, we pause to reflect upon the bright spots from the week. In our neck of the woods, here’s what we celebrated-

1. The Circle of Moms Top 25 contest is finally D-O-N-E! After two weeks of being badgered for votes, I’m sure you’re as happy as me it finally came to a close. Thank you for supporting us and continuing to vote repeatedly. We ended up placing fourth, which seems appropriate for us considering that four is apparently our lucky number. There is a pretty new badge posted on the right side of our page denoting that we are in the Top 25 for 2013.

2. Every Thursday evening, my mom comes over to help with the babies and spends the night so she can care for them while I work on Fridays. I always look forward to Thursday evenings knowing that Nisey will be here for the babies and us. I usually try to whip up my best Crock Pot dinner for her, but this week she turned the tables. Instead of me cooking, mom brought the trappings for pot roast. George and I make pot roast in our Crock Pot occasionally, but we’ve never mastered “Mom’s Pot Roast”. There is something about hers that is inherently better, and it’s reminiscent of home. She actually tested a new pot roast recipe from Pinterest on us and it was divine!

I tried to find a blog or website where the recipe originated, but could not find anything besides a pin. http://pinterest.com/pin/119134352615348161/

I tried to find a blog or website where the recipe originated to give due credit, but could not find anything besides a pin. http://pinterest.com/pin/119134352615348161/ Mississippi Roast – – Put chuck roast in crock pot, Sprinkle with dry Hidden Valley ranch dressing mix, add packet of dry McCormick Au Jus mix, a stick of butter, 5 pepperoncini peppers. DO NOT ADD WATER. Cook on low for 7-8 hrs

3. Over the past few weeks, the babies have been sitting with better control, but I don’t totally trust them so I usually put a Boppy Pillow or something soft behind them as a safety net. Several days ago, I went into the kitchen for just a few minutes to grab something and left the babies in the den. When I came back, Rylin was sitting up sans Boppy Pillow. I was a bit perplexed. I couldn’t recall whether I left her on her tummy or sitting, but thought it odd there was no safety net. The next day, I found Rylin using her hands to push herself up into sitting. She does it all the time now! The other babies are working on getting into the sitting position independently, but haven’t mastered it fully. Their Occupational Therapist taught me some ways to help them master this skill so it’s a work in progress.

I attempted to capture everyone sitting, but Sydney had other ideas and insisted on flopping onto her tummy each time I sat her upright.

4. Over the past few days, Rylin has been rather moody and downright cantankerous. Mason’s taken it upon himself to cheer her up when he can. I’ll catch him crawling up close to her with a big grin on her face and she chuckles without fail! That has to be a tight sibling bond.

Now that babies are sitting mostly independently, we’ve had an increasing number of head bonks and crashes. I put them in laundry baskets with a few toys to help catch them. It was a great idea until Rylin decided to turn her basket over.

Did you take time to smell the roses this week?

Hugs!

Amber