Inspired- Cat Kitten Nap

I walked outside today and found these two fast asleep in their feed bowl.

Everybody together now, "Awwwwwwwww." :)

Pictures For You

Because I know this is the real reason you come to my blog. :)


Rowan is Ms. Uncooperative when it comes to the camera, but I did manage to capture this sweet little grin. Sadly it's the only face shot I got of her today. Silly Sissy Girl.



Kadence and Rowan







I know I'm her mom..and I'm totally biased...but this little girl is so breathtakingly beautiful, isn't she?



Stole this idea from McKMama, thought it was so neat!






My sweet little Joey



Joey and Kay Kay



Extreme close-up of Joey. :)



Elijah giving me his, "What are you up to Mom..." face. :)



The boys



For some reason this picture reminds me of a mirror image.



And this is the way we come down the stairs. :)



Happy Friday!

Kadence's Videos for the Baby

Just a short, super sweet video of Kadence talking to her future brother or sister. :)







And here's the video we took of when we told her we were expecting again. As you'll see, she totally thought she was being Punk'd. ;o)

Accidental Miracle

I know...accidental miracle...sounds like a contradiction in terms doesn't it? For some reason this term came to mind during the first few days I found out I was pregnant. And in a way, it sums up the emotions Davey and I have gone through over the past couple of weeks.


As I said in my post yesterday, we weren't even trying to get pregnant. I didn't even know I could get pregnant! So it completely caught us off guard. After all we went through to convieve baby #2 (which as you know turned out to be baby #2, #3 and #4) I never in my wildest dreams would have thought that I could conceive on my own.


Even so...I had a hunch. I've been through this a couple of times before, and my mommy instincts were telling me I was pregnant. Davey kept saying, "Can you even get pregnant??" I don't know, I would tell him. I guess I could? Around the time I was supposed to start my period, I bought a pregnancy test. (without telling Davey) After 3 minutes, no positive line had shown up. But when I got up 10 minutes later and checked on it again, there was the faintest positive line. I wasn't convinced. I texted Davey and asked him to pick me up a test on his way home from work.

I took it that morning, and Davey and I both checked on it after a few minutes. There it was again, the faintest little positive line. The kind where you have to almost cross your eyes and stand on your head to see. But yet, it was there. I knew a line was a line. Davey however, wasn't convinced. "I think that's just an evaporation line," he stated like a pro. (Thanks to 2 years of infertility, Davey knows terms like 'evaporation line' and 'cervial mucous', as well as many, many others) So I pulled out the test that I took the night before and showed him that one. 2 tests, side by side, both faint positives. Still not 100% convinced, we agreed to wait a couple of days and retest.

Patience is not one of my virtues people.


The next day I bought a test from the Dollar Tree (they were always the most sensitive tests for me) and also a digital test- something I'd never used before. I got home and took the Dollar Tree test (again without Davey knowing) and it showed up faint positive. My intentions were to wait until the morning to take the digital test...but I couldn't wait. I dipped the stick into the cup o' pee, laid the test down, and waited.

The little hourglass flashed for what seemed like an eternity. I thought maybe it was a faulty test. And then...there it was. PREGNANT. That's when it really hit me. OMG. I'm pregnant.

I met Mr. Evaporation Line Davey at the front door with the test behind my back, smiled at him, then raised up the test and said, "How's this for confirmation?"




We hugged, both in shock I believe.


After that, I went into what I like to call "panic mode". I was pregnant. With my 5th child. 5 kids?? Then I really panicked. Oh my gosh...what if there's more than one in there??? Aside from the fact I had no idea how we'd handle another set of multiples, I knew that I couldn't physically carry multiples. Flashbacks of 1 1/2 pound babies hooked up to ventilators haunted my mind. I literally did not sleep for 2 weeks. I needed to confirm this pregnancy via ultrasound, and I needed to confirm that there was just one.


Davey on the other hand was very relaxed about the whole thing, and couldn't wait to tell everyone. He'd joke with me, "What if there's 3 in there?" (Which I did not find funny at all, by the way.)

So that was the "accidental" phase.


After the first week, I started to relax more about the thought of having antoher baby in the house. I always knew I wanted one more, though we had decided we'd wait until the triplets were in kindergarten. And that was if I even could get pregnant on my own. Infertility treatments were not an option for us because multiples were not an option for us. And with my PCOS and endometriosis, the odds were very low of us ever getting pregnant again.

Then one day it just hit me. What a miracle this baby was. And the tears just started flowing. It took us 2 years to conceive the triplets. 2 years. 2 years of heartache, and stress, and pain. (Of course I wouldn't change things now even if I could, I have 3 of the most adorable, sweetest 2-year-olds anyone could ask for.) But even still, after all we went through, I thought that was it for us. No more babies. Ever.

And then fast forward 2 years, and without even trying, we conceive. How crazy is that??

That was when I entered the "miracle" phase.


I think that this baby was always in our "plans", whether we knew it or not. As you know, there are no suprises to God. I'm sure he was having a good old laugh that day we found out we were pregnant. :)



This little baby is due around January 20th, though that will be confirmed at my next u/s on June 10th. There is just one baby in there this time, by the way. :) I can't imagine how simple one baby will seem after having 3 babies. I'll be able to take care of it with my eyes closed. ;o) And you moms of multiples will understand this more than others, but I'm so looking forward to spoiling this baby! Having multiples is an amazing, wonderful experience, and I wouldn't change it for the world. But when they're tiny little things, you're so busy, it's so hard to get in one one one time with them. I'm really looking forward to getting in some wonderful snuggle time with this one. And since this will be our last baby, I will cherish every single newborn moment with this little one. ^_^


Kadence is so excited to be a big sister again. When we first told her (we waited until yesterday to tell her), she thought we were joking! She totally thought she was being Punk'd. (Ok, so she doesn't know what Punk'd is, but she totally thought that's what was happening) After I reassured her that Mommy was not teasing, and that I REALLY was pregnant, she was so sweet! I don't know how many times yesterday I almost got tackled. She'd come running at me and throw her arms around me, kiss me like a million times and say, "Mommy, I'm SO happy you have a baby in your belly!!" I'll try to share some videos of her when we first told her, and a short video she made for the new baby. It's so sweet. ^_^


Thank you all so much for your support and kind words. I've so been looking forward to sharing this news with you the past 2 weeks! So glad you'll be here for this next adventure in our lives. :)

And Baby Makes 5 :)

No infertility treatments....no planning...This is 100% an "oops" baby. And we couldn't be more excited. :)


*more to come on this, but I'll let this soak in for a bit. :)*

I really don't mean to...

I really don't mean to leave you hanging, my faithful blog readers. To be quite honest, I just haven't felt very inspired lately to write much of anything. Which makes me sad- but I sit here and try as I might, cannot think of anything to write. I want it to be witty. I want it to be heartfelt. But I come up with nothin'. Nada. Zip.

Crazy that even bloggers can get writers block. Especially when 99% of the time I'm writing about my kids. But honestly, aside from sharing cute photos, I can't think of anything to write. I need inspiration.


Aside from my writer's block, summer is going great on the McDowell Farm. (I realize it's only Spring, but when the babies are running around in their bathing suits naked running through the sprinkler, it is officially summer. That's one great thing about living out in the middle of nowhere, the babies can strip down to their birthday suits and run around the yard, little butt cheeks just a jiggling, and no neighbors to worry about. They're 2. It's allowed. No worries people, Kadence wears a bathing suit.


Now that it's nice outside, our day goes as follows: Everyone gets up, we eat breakfast. After breakfast, I put on Baby Einstein or Bear in the Big Blue House for the babies, and then for the next couple of hours I clean and do laundry. They've never allowed me to take time out of the day and get things done like that before (at least not in a 1-2 hour chunk like that) so it's been really nice. They watch their show for a bit, then go into the playroom and play, then wander back into the living room. It's nice. And it's nice to be able to keep up to try and keep up with the laundry and the dishes and the toys.

After I feel that I've put a dent in the cleaning, I go play with the babies and Kadence for a bit, then we eat lunch, then the babies take a nap. During naptime I usually go take care of the garden, or my flowers, and Kadence helps. She loves watering the flowers. After nap time we have a little snack, then head outside to play. The goal is to wear them all out until they get tired. Or hungry. Unfortunately hungry usually comes first. So I herd all of them back in the house, make supper, we eat, then we play some more. Then we take our baths (unless mommy is REALLY tired...sometimes we skip the bath. Unless we're really dirty...then mommy HAS to give us a bath even though she's really tired) and watch an episode of bear, snuggle on the couch, and then go to bed. Mommy and Kadence usually stay up for a bit longer, then Mommy tucks Kadence in and reads her a book. Then Mommy collapses on the couch and reads for a bit, then she goes to bed. (not sure at what point I started referring to myself in the third person, but after I did I just went with it.)

Pshew. That's a long day let me tell ya what.


Rowan is talking up a storm now. I call her my little parrot. She will try and repeat most everything you say, especially the last word you said. The other night I had tucked the boys in bed (the boys share a room, Rowan sleeps in her own room). I told them goodnight, and told Rowan to tell her brothers goodnight and that she loved them. She leaned over a little bit and gave them the sweetest little wave and a smile and said, "Night bubbies. Wub-ooh." Totally melted my heart.


The boys aren't talking a whole lot more than they were. Eli more than Joey. But I'm not concerned. Yesterday Joey did pull my tank top down and say, "booby". Which was HUGE for Joey! So we all clapped and carried on about what a big word that was, and how proud of him we were. "Yay Joey!!!! You said BOOBY!!!! What a BIG BOY!!!" Funny the things that you get excited about when you have kids...


Kadence is growing like a little weed. She was 45 inches tall at her last doctors appt. I think the only thing we have left on our checklist for entering Kindergarten is a visit to the dentist. (Illinois state law requires a visit to your family doctor, a visit to the eye doctor, and a visit to the dentist all before entering Kindergarten. Hmm...too bad our insurance doesn't cover doctor visits.) Anywho, she can't wait for school to get here, though I think she's a bit nervous about being away from her Mommy and Daddy and brothers and sisters all day. I keep reassuring her that she'll be just fine, and that she'll have so much fun she won't even have time to miss us. I haven't mentioned how much I'll miss her. Think I'll keep that to myself. She is absolutely loving this weather we're having, and was so excited yesterday when we filled up the kiddie pool for her to go "swimming" in. That little girl is a fish. Absolutely loves the water. This is the same little girl who said her favorite part of her week-long vacation to Disney World was swimming in the hotel pool. :)


Well, I've rambled for long enough I think. Hope I didn't bore you too much. I know this summer is going to fly by, and someday I'll want to look back and see what my days used to be like when they were little.


Hoping this writer's block ends soon...this blogging once a week is for the birds.

A Walk in the Park

The other day my little sister Ashley wanted me to run to Decatur with her, so we loaded up the kids and off we went! (I am slowly getting them out of this bubble they've been under for the last 2 years, I promise)

After a few minutes at Hobby Lobby, the 3 youngest decided Hobby Lobby was not an exciting place to be, even though the only store they had ever been in before was last year when we went to Target. They must like Target more than Hobby Lobby...

So I took them outside and fed them snacks in the parking lot while Aunt Ashley shopped for wedding goodies.





On our way home, we stopped at a park and had the best time. These are my favorite days. Days where we just play. And have fun. And the kids are having fun. And are enjoying their little adventures. The babies are seeing things for the first time, while Kadence is off making new friends on the playground faster than you can say "she's definitely not shy". (A woman and her 2-year-old walked by and Kadence asked me, "Mom, can I go ask that little girl to be my friend?" I told her that the little girl was the same age as her brothers and sister. ;o)) She did find 2 little boys who were more than happy to meet a new friend and climb all over the playground equipment and go down the slides with her. She definitely does not get that boldness from me. Must be from her Daddy.

Here are some pictures from our day at the park, and a little video that I think it just too cute not to share. :)


(Joey and Eli kept picking up the bread off of the ground that was meant for the duckies. And eating it. :))





STATIC! Kay Kay got such a kick out of this picture.


How sweet is this?


Enjoying a picnic in the park. (Ok, ok...so it was McDonald's...) Rowan, Joey, Elijah


Kadence at the bottom of the slide :)



Eli going down the slide with Aunt Ashley


Joey


Rowan


Mommy and her 3 little ducklings. The 4th was off playing with her new friends. :)




Video- Chasing the ducks :)

Sneak Peek- Alayna and Josslyn

Last weekend I had the privilige of meeting these two beautiful, tiny little girls, who belong to our friends Andrea and Jason. They were the sweetest little things. Seriously could not have been more adorable. Seriously.




I kept saying, "Oh my gosh!! They're sooo tiny!! Davey, can you believe our kids were ever this small? Oh my gosh! They're just sooo little!" Funny the things you forget, isn't it?


I was able to get in a little photo shoot while I was there, and they were just the perfect little models. ^_^ I can only share this one for now since it's the only one that Mom and Dad have seen, but I'm almost finished with the rest! (I promise Andrea!!)


Thank you so much for letting me meet these two precious little miracles Andrea and Jason. They are just too sweet for words. ^_^

Cousins, Chickens, and a Sleepover

This was actually last weekend, but I'm just now getting time to post it!

Davey's sister came down last Saturday with her 3 little munchkins, and we all had a great day hanging out. It was, in my eyes, the perfect day. :)


Between our 4 kids, and Davey's sister's 3 kids (his only sibling) there have been 7 grandchildren born in the past 5 years- with Kay Kay being the oldest. Kadence is 5, Chiana is 4, Aeryn is 2 1/2, Elijah is 2, Joey is 2, Rowan is 2, and Ian is 1 1/2.


Here they are, from the front of the 4-wheeler to the back:

Ian, Aeryn, Joey, Eli, Kadence, Chiana, and Rowan



The boys. Ian is 7 months younger than the triplets, but every bit as big. (Ian, Elijah, Joey)



Remember those baby chicks we had about 2 months ago? They're big chickens now!


Kadence, being a little monkey hanging from one of our fruit trees.



Rowan just plopped down next to these chickens. So cute. And no that's not chicken poop on her face, it's dirt. However, she did stick her finger in some chicken poop a few moments later. I know, ew right?


The kids petting a hen.



Ms. Aeryn on the right, Chiana on the left.



Kadence was so excited to have Chiana stay the night with us. This was Saturday morning, they were playing dress-up and put on a musical show for us. So stinkin' cute. :)

Guess what I did Today?

*This is a cross post from my weight-loss blog, but I wanted to share this with all of you too!*


Today after watching my DVR'd episode of The Biggest Loser, I was totally inspired. The 4 remaining contestants ran an entire marathon. That is amazing! A marathon is 26.2 miles. Can you even imagine? My favorite part (other than when they crossed the finish line) was when they told Jillian that they had to run a marathon. Jillian said, "I've never even ran a marathon!!" Seriously? And these people are going to try to run one? Insane!


Then later on in the show, Helen (whom I don't really like by the way) said something that really inspired me. She said, "Who would have thought that I would ever run a marathon? Maybe this whole time I've been training for one and I didn't even realize it?"


So that got me thinking about my post the other day where I said, "Maybe someday I'll be able to run a 5k?" Maybe I had been training for a 5k and didn't even realize it?


So I got up off the couch, laced up my shoes, and headed out the door. I had no idea how long it was going to take me. Or if I could even finish it. But I was determined. (I might add that I had to Google '5k' to see how far that is. It's 3.1 miles. Ya know, in case you were wondering.)


About 30 minutes into the race, I called Davey and made him get in the car and come meet me to see how far I had run already. (I didn't plan this run out very well did I? lol) As he was approaching, I kept saying to myself, "Please be a mile and a half already...please be a mile and a half..." If I wasn't at least halfway done, I was going to scream.

He pulled up next to me and announced that I had already run 2.5 miles! I was ecstatic!!


He drove next to me for the rest of the run (made me feel like a true runner, haha).

And I did it. I finished a 5k.

3.1 miles in 39 minutes.

I felt AMAZING.


Though it wasn't official, and I wasn't racing anyone, none of that really mattered. What mattered is that I finished a 3.1 mile run.


Go me. :)


Me after finishing my run



I was feeling on top of the world. And super strong. :)




And I learned something very important today. You've got to push yourself. Because if you don't, you'll really never know what you've got in you. There's something amazing inside of all of us, we may just not know it yet.

Inspired {Scenes from the High Chair}

Back in the day when I used to have time post photos on photography websites, these would have fallen under the post title of "JMK", which simply meant, "just my kids". Those were photos that weren't technically perfect. The focus may be off, they may be a little grainy... but ya just love em'.

So that's what these are. JMK. Enjoying an afternoon snack in their high chairs. :)


This first set is of Joe Man. He was the most cooperative of the bunch. :)















Of course, Row Row. She was semi-cooperative. :)











And Eli was the least cooperative, which is why there are only 3 pictures of this little guy. :)






Have a good weekend!