A Thank you

I love my kids and I love being a mom!  It is truly the most amazing feeling and the most amazing thing I have ever done.  Some days I am struck by how lucky I am to be a mother also to be a mother to quadruplets.  Today is one of those days.  I am not sure why, but it is.  I can remember telling someone, while I was pregnant, that I knew God would not give me more than I could handle.  After I had all 4 of them home from the hospital, I think I called myself a lier.  But I handled it.  Of course I had help from friends, but still I made it through.  I was thinking about the day they were born and the events surrounding their birth.  I am still in such awe over the miracle that I was given that day.  Against so many odds I was given 4 healthy, happy amazing babies.

I was told when I first found out I was pregnant with quadruplets that there is a 25% mortality rate.  I thought... WOW...that was my only thought.  We went to see specialists in "Selective Reduction" so we could move forward with the pregnancy with all of the information we needed.  The "Selective Reduction" specialist told me that I would be lucky if I "walked away from this with 2 babies".  We spoke to another specialist who was the first to tell me that I COULD do it.  He told me I could give birth to 4 healthy children.  He told me that it would be hard, and that they might not all make it, but that it was worth giving them a chance.  So we decided to put it in God's hands, and let him do what he had planned for us.  I am so grateful for that decision.  I was watching my children run around in their underwear tonight, and even though I was grumpy (it's hot today) I was still so very thankful for the gift I have been given.

I really think we can all get bogged down with the problems we have in life.  There is never enough money or time, the house is never clean, what to cook for dinner, the laundry pile is never ending....whatever, but I think if we all just take a moment to see the gifts in our lives, it can make our world just a little brighter.  So tonight, I will say a little prayer of Thanks.  Thank you Lord for all the joys and gifts you have brought to my life.  Thank you Lord for my 4 AMAZING children, my husband, my family and the love I have in my heart!!!  You are an amazing God to have blessed me this much.

We made it!!!!!

It's over....Thank God!!!  We all survived their first year of school!!!!

180 days ago I tearfully left them to meet new people, have new experiences and generally grow up. I did this unwillingly, but they were so excited! They could not get there fast enough and I was so worried, so sad and just nervous.

Since school started they have learned so many things. They can read now, their writing is leaps and bounds better than it was, they are doing math, learning new vocabulary words...it is amazing! They have made new friends...most of them I like, some of them...not so much! They are turning into little people with opinions and likes/dislikes, fashion sense and so many other things. It has truly been wonderful watching them grow into the big kids they are becoming.

As I watched the kindergarten celebration today, I couldn't help but fast forward in my mind to when they graduate from High School. It was a moment that almost over took my emotions. I feel like if I blink, it will be here. I know they are still my babies, but I am not ready for the years to come yet. I am trying to graciously let them come, but oh my, I really wish I could keep them little forever!

One the first day of school, I posted pictures of them.... I took pictures this morning and I realize that my babies are definitely not babies anymore!!!!!!

Christian

Samantha

Jeremy

Paige