SAN DIEGO

We did it, we took a family trip with the boys. We know life is short and you never know how long you have with the ones you love so we wanted to do something special.   Our vacations are always camping trips and those are great but this time we were lucky enough to go to San Diego.  We had airmiles and some vouchers from issues with the flight home from DC (visiting Baker's Dr at the NIH) and so guess how much we paid for 6 tickets....$60 total!!  You can't beat that right!  Then my parents had points that they weren't using and were generous enough to let us use at the World Mark/Trend West that is in Mission Valley San Diego. 

I took tons of pictures but I won't include them all, I have just chosen a few to share throughout.

I was nervous as to how the boys would do on the plane and I was hopeful that me worrying about them would sidetrack me from my immense fear of the plane crashing...well that along with some meds did help me :)  The boys did great!  Way better then we expected.  Deegan thought it felt like a ride and he liked to laugh at me when I would get a little scared :)   The hardest part for Madden was when he had to stay in his seat, buckled up, b/c he wanted to be able to see out the window and Baker had to have a window seat the whole time b/c he was in his carseat and that is where it fit so there was one window left for the other 3 boys to share.

So while we were they we went to Seaworld 4 times.  Whether you went once or every day cost the same (other then parking) and we all loved it there so we kept going back and most of the times Madden could only handle it a few hours at a time.  By the way, right before we left Madden got sick with a cough and his coughs are usually challenging b/c of his asthma.  Baker also got sick the night before we left (and Talan but just for the night really).   Jeromy said he didn't think we should go but I talked him into it and we are glad we went.  We took along the nebulizer machine and gave Baker and Madden treatments to try and help them out.  Nothing like having to give breathing treatments on vacation. 

Baker did lots of throwing up but that is pretty typical.  Some of it was his normal throwing up from GI issues and some of it was from having junk he had to cough up and out.  Anyway back to the fun stuff.  At Sea World they have some fun little rides for the kids and Talan and Deegan really enjoyed those.  They also liked the games they could play.   The kids loved the Pet Show, it was very cute, dogs and cats and even a pig doing cute little tricks.  Shamu was a hit as well.  SO much so that Talan actually cried when the show was over and we had to leave that area b/c he loved him so much.  So of course we had to buy a Shamu stuffed animal.   We also saw the Sea Lion as well as the Dolphin show.  So at each show there was a wheel chair area that either all of us would sit or just Baker and I.  Well at the Dolphin show the wheelchair area happened to be in the splash zone (kind of strange I think).  I asked if they thought we would actually get wet there and they said, there was a "small" chance.  There were no actual seat there so Jeromy and the boys sat higher but I stayed by Baker and sure enough we got splashed, Big Time, and Baker was not too crazy about that so we left a little early AND guess what, Talan and Deegan were bummed they didn't get to get splashed :)  Sea World was great, we loved it there.  Poor Madden with being sick, like I said, really struggles when he coughs and often he throws up (which we really don't want to happen in the middle of Sea World, it had already happened in the middle of a playground at a park we were at) from it and anytime he would run he would cough.  Is a 2 1/2 year old going to walk through Sea World, well no, at least not our 2 1/2 year old.  So we tried to keep him strapped in the stroller most of the time but he wanted to get out sometimes so we just had to be careful to try not let him run and you think that would be possible but not so much.  Poor kid just wanted to have some fun though.  He really added a lot of challenge to our Sea World trips and really he added a challenge to the whole trip in general.  He is a handful to say the least.   He may have made our trip a lot more difficult but I wouldn't change it, I couldn't imagine having gone without him! 

We spent one very rainy morning at Sea World too

This was such a special moment.  We were in the aquarium and Baker was enjoying and reaching for the fish, it was so sweet.

We went to the USS Midway one day.  The boys thought it was so cool and loved seeing the big ship and the huge planes and helicopters.  They even got to sit in some of them.

We also went to Legoland one day.  This was a perfect place for Talan and Deegan, they absolutely loved it.  It had a lot more rides then we expected and of course a ton of really amazing things made of legos.  Talan and Deegan said their favorite part was driving the lego cars.  I was pretty sad that out of the tons and tons of rides they had there Baker was only able to go on 3 of them.  All the rest you had to be able to sit unsupported.  We are use to Baker not being able to do things that typical kids can do but I got really sad watching him look at his brothers on some of the rides while we waited on the sidelines and I saw the frustration in his eyes and how he reached for the ride with his left arm, like why can't I go on there.  Oh sweet baby boy, I wish you could.  I would have to say it is frustrating to take a handicapped child to a place like Legoland and make you pay full price (which is pricey) if they aren't going to have more handicapped accessible rides.  Either give the poor kids a discount or make more handicapped accessible rides.   Talan and Deegan were such good sports, they wanted to go on so many more rides then we were able to take them on.  Unfortunately they needed a parent with them on most rides and I had to stay with Baker off of most and Madden wasn't tall enough for some.  Poor kids couldn't do a lot of things they deserved to be able to do but we are blessed with some good little boys who really didn't complain too much and were still happy to be there even though they had to miss out on some fun stuff.    Madden loved seeing the lego tractors and choo choo train and Baker loved to be able to go on the boat ride.  i was so happy he was able to come on there with us!

This car was completly made out of lego's

We also went to a childrens science museum at Balboa Park.  It was a way to kill time on a day that wasn't the best weather.  Think the kids had a little bit of fun at least :)


On our first day we went to Target to get some beach toys, since it is a bit tough to pack buckets and stuff like that.  We only ended being able to go to the beach one day for about an hour or so and it was cold but the boys didn't seem to mind.  We were just too busy the rest of the time and when we did plan a day to go it was raining.  Oh well, the kids didn't seem to miss it and we can always go to Birch Bay here if we want.

Every day included some time by the pool, everyone loved playing in the pool!   The boys also loved the game room where we were staying.  In fact, Jeromy and I were joking that our next vacation can just be going to the pool in town and the arcade at the mall b/c that seemed to be their favorite things.

I have to share a couple more pictures.  The fist couple of the boys precious shamu.  They fed him (bowl) then he needed to read a book, then needed to take a nap.  Now both Talan and Madden need to sleep with shamu every night yet (they also one another one so we have 2).

Also had to take a picture of the rental car b/c the boys were so excited for it.  In fact on our way to the airport they asked "how long until we get the mini van".   Who could have thought a minivan would be so cool right, they love that you can push a button and the doors open :) 

I also love this picture of Deegan holding Baker:

Oh and last one - Madden likes to go off in privacy for his pooing time and he often went under this chair to do the doody so of course Mom had to snap a shot :)

Overall, good time!  Now next weekend we get to go camping with a bunch of friends.





THE LONG AWAITED CHUCK E CHEESE

Saturday we headed south for our fun weekend with the kids.  Last year we went with a bunch of friends and this year it started out like it was going to be the same and then it ended up just being us and one other family (The Stauffers) and then the last minute they had to cancel because they were sick so it ended up being just our family but that was fine.  We weren't going to try and reschedule because the boys have been asking "how many more days" pretty much since we were there last year.  So Saturday morning we headed to Burlington to go to Red Robin (the boys favorite restaurant) and Chuck E Cheese.   Boy, were both crazy busy.  The boys just adore Chuck E Cheese.  There were so many kids there (just like last year) and Talan and Deegan have so much fun playing the games.  Jeromy and I took turns chasing Madden and he had a lot of fun this year with many of the smaller games too so that was great that he could enjoy it.  Last year he pretty much just wanted to run around.   I also had Baker the whole time.  He was in his hi-low base and that is harder to maneuver especially through small places trying not to run over people toes.  Wish he could play the games, but he at least had fun watching the boys play.   A few hours there seems long enough so then we were off to Lynnwood to stay at the Embassy Suites.   We all went swimming and Baker loved the pool!  He had more fun in the pool then I have ever seen him have before.  He was flapping his arms up and down like crazy and he was wiggling around with a big smile on his face.  He was just loving it.  Usually when people jump in and he gets splashed he freaks out but he didn't at all this time, he would just kind of freeze for a second like he was surprised and then keep on playing.  It is such a treat to see him enjoy himself so much.  Madden had a lot of fun too.  Jumping to Daddy and Talan and Deegan do great in the water and love it as well.  We all had fun.   Bedtime is a bit rough, afterall why would 4 little boys want to go to bed when you could be bouncing off the walls instead.   The hotel had some banquet going on in the middle too and it was actually very loud so that was kind of difficult.  So we were all a bit tired tired when we got home but glad we could go and have this time together.  Nothing like fun family time!  We really have the 4 sweetest boys in the world!  I feel so lucky and blessed!
Here are a few pictures from the outing:

Baker wants a ball so bad too

Gideey up

Both Baker and Madden really like trains

All smiles

Everyone enjoying the pool - wish I could have gotten a picture of Baker loving the pool too

Ok mom, take the picture, I am a little cold

Movie time - guess how long they layed like this - maybe 1 second after I snapped the picture :)  Then it was back to rough housing

WORDS AND TEARS

Once again it has been awhile since my last post.  With the older boys I was good at writing down and keeping track of everything they were doing - words they were saying, how they were sleeping, eating...all that jazz.  I haven't been doing so well with Madden.  Typical thing with the youngest right.

Well Madden is almost 2 1/2 and he is still a boy of few words.  He has some cute things that he says that almost sound like the real word that I wanted to make sure to write down so we wouldn't forget.  Here are some of them:
I you = I love you
Yorry = sorry
All dum = all done
chew = cereal
nose = kleenex
Bibi = Binki
Nigh nights = blankies
Poopoo's = diapers
T T = Talan
Deeg Deeg's = Deegan
I P = icecream
Yoyo = yogurt
Papa = Grandpa
Baba = milk = whether in his sippie or on his cereal he asks for baba.
As you can see he likes to repeat syllables.
He likes to try to say abra cadabra; it comes out kinda like a ba tada and he waves his arms.
There are probably more but those are the ones that are sticking out in my head right now.  He also walks around and says "huh" alot with a surprised look on his face, like how did that happen or how did that get there.
Often the only people that know what he is saying are Jeromy and I.

He says some other words clearly but still lots of mumbo jumbo.  He loves trucks, trains and tractors, like the rest or our boys.  He also still loves to dance too.   He is very animated and it is very funny when he tries to tell you about something that happened, especially when his older brothers have been rough with him.  He will come up and say TT or Deeg Deegs "mashed" me and he will hit himself really hard where they hit him with a very serious look on his face.  It is pretty comical.  

His favorite show is Chuggington.  It use to be Oso and now he wants nothing to do with that.  All he cares about (as far as tv) is Chuggington. 

Now onto the tears portion.   This is regarding Deegan and preschool.  Almost every single time I drop him off at preschool he cries.  The teacher says it is short lived but he does it.  Usually right before we leave home he tells me he has a tummy ache.  Then the tears come right when we pull in the parking lot.  He doesn't really have an explanation but our feeling is that he feels bad b/c the learning part of preschool Talan has an easier time with.  Talan is so fast with his school work (I try to tell him it isn't a race) and I think that stressed Deegan out b/c it doesn't come as easily to him.  That breaks my heart.  Our desire has always been that one twin does not overly excel over the other; meaning we are hoping that one will not be way better in sports or way better in school.  Just breaks my heart to think one of the boys would have hurt feelings if they weren't as good at something as the other.  Part of life I know, but harder when you are a twin.  It will be time for kindergarten next year and I hope Deegan doesn't struggle with crying when I bring him there too.  I took them in for their kindergarten shots today and holy cow you would have thought they were getting tortured in there.  It would not have been possible for them to scream any louder.  Deeg's went first and he was screaming that he didn't want to go first, actually hurt my ears it was so loud.  Baker was with and I had to lay him on the chair/bed thing right next to me and hold each boys arms down during their shot and they each screamed so hard that is scared Baker and he was screaming and Talan was clinging to the scale and wouldn't let go when it was his turn b/c he was petrified too.  I felt like a horrible mom b/c I couldn't help but laugh a little during the process b/c I was so shocked out how they were acting.   They were just terrified.   I swear they could have heard them from the waiting room which we were very far away from.

We signed Talan and Deegan up for soccer so they will start that in the middle of April and we are looking fwd to that.  It is always cute to see them playing sports.  I love it.  Hope they have fun.  Sometimes with sports Talan can be frustrated with himself and get mad if he is not good so hopefully that won't be the case.  Hopefully they can just enjoy it.

We had our first broken window today.  Not all the way through but the boys were throwing things around upstairs (I didn't see it happen so not sure what they were throwing and of course they can't remember) and Talan threw a toy that hit the window and it is now broken.  Bummer, had to happen sooner or later I guess with 4 crazy boys :)

Baker is doing great, he had a really sick spell with pneumonia, RSV and an ear infection and he really struggled for a week but he is doing well and back to smiles, giggles and wiggles.  He even says a word now.  He says "Hi" and he is so proud of it.  He will say it when he see's a phone or when someone comes home. At the Dr today he was saying it over and over to the Dr.  It is music to our ears.  My parents are still out of town and they get to hear him say hi on the phone, in fact it is hard to sit near him when I am trying to talk b/c he just wants to keep saying it very loudly.  So cute!

A change with me is that  a couple days ago I resigned my position as aerobics coordinator at Homestead.  I will still be an instructor and personal trainer there as well as at my own studio but I decided to step down from my coordinating position.  It was a hard decision but I have to tell you as of right now I feel nothing but relief!  There was so much stress involved in that job and it just took too much of my time even with me mentally being consumed with something there and not focusing on my family like I should.   So I am happy with my decision.

Well that is all for now.  The next thing we have to look forward to is in 2 weeks a little trip down south to Chuck E Cheese, Red Robin and Embassy Suites in Lynnwood for the night.  Lots of fun!

EVERETT CHILDRENS MUSEUM

Last week Jeromy had some time off so one day we took the boys (minus Madden) to the Everett Children's Museum b/c my friend Kym G. had told me how much her and her boys love it.  I think it might have been a little overstimulating for Baker but he did really like the train.  Talan and Deegan seemed to like the water game and the construction zone the best although if you ask them they say they like it all the best.   In the construction zone they loved building towers and Jeromy built a tall one around each boy and they thought that was cool.  There are a couple floors to the museum, the roof was closed b/c it was all iced over but when it was time to go to the basement we had our own special elevator ride that the workers had to come take us on b/c of Baker being in the wheelchair and of course not being able to use the stairs.
Baker had a little bit of a rough go on the drive but thankfully Jeromy was driving so I could hop back there and comfort him although the boys were very concerned the "the policeman was going to catch me" when I got out of my seatbelt.    Don't think they were worried I would get hurt, just that the policeman would get me :) 
It was nice to spend some time together with the 3 big boys.  The museum was SOOOO crowded it would have been stressful to have to worry about Madden there!
Here are some pictures of our day there

Baker loving the train

milking a cow...Baker was a bit scared of any of the large animals that made noise, so we stayed back

making bubbles

splash zone

karate chopping the tower

that's a big tower!

time to make alians in the craft room

time to head home