"Those Moments"

Friday, March 2, 2012 10:02 PM by Serena-Mom of 4 boys 1 comments

Boys,

So today was one of those days. You'll know these days one day when you get older. Those days you want to tuck back in your mind so you can relive it over and over. Those days where all the frustrations and doubt that your a good parent drift away and you think, I got this and man is this awesome. So today was Dr. Seuss' Birthday so I decided to do a whole theme. Now it wasn't like we don't always read or engage but your reactions today were just too much. We watched the Cat in the Hat and read 3 of Dr. Seuss' books and ate green eggs and ham and you were all so into it and animated. Don't get me wrong, you still fought with eachother and I'm sure there were tantrums but the great moments of today just help those to soften. My all time favorite moment my sons were when we were reading green eggs and ham. Samuel, you just listened in awe. Jeremiah, you kept pointing at things on the pages, and naming all the items that you recognized, car, train, mess, etc. Now Isaac, you were sitting on my lap and as I was reading, you turned around, looked up at me, held my face with your little chubby hands and gave me a kiss and smiled. Like saying, thanks mama, you rock. Of course this moment absolutely took my breath away and reminded me why I chose to stay home with you, to leave a job I loved, to obviously stay home to a better job. I never saw myself as a stay at home but yet here I am. I recently spoke to your Papa about this very subject. Comparing myself to someone we knew that absolutely is an awesome stay-at -home mom and stating, I'm not that person, she is great. Your Papa's response to me was, your right, your not that person, you are you, and they couldn't do what you do on their best day. Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's a competition, it's more of my self doubt getting the best of me at times. Now that was awesome for him to say but I'm not sure I truly believed it until today. This day brought tears to my eyes and reminded me to take it all in and remember what it's all about. Now my baby boys, I can't forget about your big brother. Now today he was going to a fieldtrip to Knotts Berry Farm that left tonight. Although he came home with friends and they hung out here, he still finished his chores and as he left, he made sure to give me a hug and kiss and say I love you mom. Now for a kid about to be 13, and do this in front of his friends is big. He loves his mama and I love all my boys. Thank you my loves for taking my breath away. These are those moments...

Letter to Samuel



My mijo,



I wanted to write you a special letter since you have been through so much medically. Well 2 days ago you had your 5th and it looks like, your final surgery. Every time you went under my heart felt like it stopped until I saw you again. I tried to just put my faith in God and not freak out but it was easier said than done at times. You, however, emerged a trooper every time. I am amazed at your resilience and how it really does seem, however sad it is, your tolerance for pain is high. You are currently recovering and I have to say, seeing you hurt is heartbreaking. I wish I could take away the pain but all I can say is I'am so sorry mijo that you have to go through this. I know it's a temporary state and I should be so thankful that other than this you are healthy and I am but it still hurts to see you in pain. Then there are times when my Samuel emerges and you are running around trying to get in there with your brothers and I have to keep telling you to sit down and relax because you just had surgery. It's these moments that I know, all will be ok. I love you and are just praying for these next few weeks of recovery fly by for you. I hope that my comfort helps and that you are healed and running around with your crazy 3 older brothers again in no time.




Love you,



Mama

Always staying busy

So my last post was about Samuel's upcoming surgery. Well to update, it has been postponed. He has an appointment this Friday and we will see then if it will be rescheduled for the next week or two or pushed back a bit. They want him to be a bit bigger so that's the reason.

Well this weekend I was given a great compliment. I was told that I have so much energy and seem so active. This made me feel good because most of the time I feel so run down and everyday when I lay my head down I think of all that I still need to accomplish and how tomorrow I will be better. I sometimes feel inadequate in aspects of my life. Like I'm not organized enough, driven enough, not enough activities with the boys, not enough time spent with Lil Vic, not enough meals cooked, I really need to learn how to sew, I don't cook healthy enough and so on and so on. Don't get me wrong, I know what's important and that my boys are healthy and happy but am I doing enough of the other stuff. It sounds silly even to me but I think when your plate is full you always feel like things are falling off. Now today it's raining so maybe that explains why I feel blah but will we ever do enough for our kids? Will we ever feel adequate? It's not just about the babies, but also my mijo. Are we making the right decisions for Lil Vic and helping him to reach his potential in all aspects in his life? Are we pushing too hard, not hard enough? I usually don't like worrying about things I have no control over however I know how I chose to raise my children is my choice and I guess at times, I wonder if its all enough. So thanks to may family members that gave me that awesome compliment, only if it shows me that by staying moving and active, perhaps as many things aren't falling off that plate of life!

Only one more surgery (I hope!)




So it's a New Year and as the first week goes by I can't ignore the fact that Samuel is having his 5th and hopefully final surgery next week. Tomorrow we head to Loma Linda for pre-op stuff. I try not to dwell or think to much about it because if I do, I will freak out. Now obviously since this is his 5th surgery we have been here before. However, can you ever get use to the idea of your baby being put under and the realization that there's nothing you can do about the pain of healing. I mean I will do my best to sooth and comfort but this is really out of my control. Now I don't get too much into the details but this is the surgery that will hopefully finish correcting his hypospadias. I think the fact that Samuel is now 2 and is speaking so much, also has me worried. He knows how to express pain and he says ouch! So I guess for now I will just pray. I know the control of the situation is out of my hands and that only God knows our plan. I just pray that he watches over Samuel and helps to relieve his pain as quickly as possible.

2 year stats- December 1, 2011

9:08 PM by Serena-Mom of 4 boys 0 comments
A little behind but wanted to post the boys 2 year height and weights.


Isaac- Height 35 1/2 inches Weight 30 lbs 6 oz

Jeremiah- Height 35 1/2 inches Weight 30 lbs 6oz

Samuel- Height 33 1/2 inches Weight 25 lbs 6 oz


Well it happend, Jeremiah finally caught up to Isaac and showed us, they really are identical! They are above average on height and weight.

Samuel is below average but on the chart! Woo Hoo!

Times 3!

So boys, you will be 22 months soon and I'm not going to lie, some things are getting easier and some things are getting harder. It is easier to get out of the house but now that you are approaching 2, we have full on fighting, biting and tantrums occurring. Now that's to be expected but when you multiple it times 3 it can be daunting. Obviously I think that's part of the struggles I'm having recently. Everything times 3 is a lot. I mean when I had Victor, we were young and although he had all the important things there were things I felt I couldn't afford to give him. I always felt that next time it would be different since we would be older and more financially set. Well we were but obviously my decision to stay home has created a tight budget and that is hard for me to swallow at times. There are things that I would love to put you in, sports classes and such but when you multiple the cost times 3, it is ridiculous. Even getting the courage to take you out on my own is over whelming. I sometimes look at people with one kid and how they can just go out to eat, no problem but with 3 toddlers and minimal funds, again not worth it. Now I do know that these things are not what's important I just wished I was in a different place by now and the feeling that we have gone backwards financially just sucks at times. I know that this is a temporary time in our lives I just hope that I'm enough for you. That having me everyday instead of activities we can buy is enough and creates beautiful men.

Back to School!



















So the Vic's are back in school! I am sure missing the extra hands and their company. We had a great summer and took a few trips. We started the summer with a camping trip in San Diego for a soccer tournament and then of course our annual Yosemite trip. Then the 6 of us stayed in one of our resorts in Indio for a few days. Vic and I finished off the summer with a trip to Sonoma and Napa for our anniversary. We really needed that away time to re-focus on us. We can get lost in this craziness. The boys travel pretty well and I think are use to being on the go. People always ask us why do we do it. I think the best answer is we loved traveling before the boys and we still want to travel. No one wants to be left at home so we all go. Of course our destinations are closer to home these days but that's ok. We figure we have to do all of this at home wouldn't it be more fun to do it at a campsite or a resort condo. I knew when I stopped working it was going to be hard but God has seemed to bless us along the way and we have felt his love.





So the boys and I are getting back into our routine. I am always trying to think of things to keep them busy. When they get bored is when trouble occurs the most. We have outside playtime and I am trying to incorporate school. They of course don't have the attention span for anything long just time to show them the alphabet and corresponding pictures. They do love it because they are mini books for them to look at. Now with Vic he was in daycare since 14 months old so I had to remember with these boys I am their daycare and need to incorporate more learning. All more boys are changing so much and although some days can be overwhelming I am extremely thankful for these moments.





Victor- So Vic has started Jr High and really loves it. He is a great kid but is starting to get a little mouthy. Nothing out of control, he's just at that age. He is about to start a new season of soccer with his new team, Manchester United. He really loves this team and likes the coach alot. We also recently received his Star Testing results and scored advanced on both subjects. We continue to be amazed by him. He has his 1st school dance coming up. Yikes!





Isaac-Now my cuddly bear has turned a little whiney. I think it's a phase or at least I hope so. He is a chunky monkey but is starting to stretch. He is really such a sweetheart though. He still loves to eat the most and is very playful. He doesn't seem shy and it doesn't take him much to feel comfortable in a new environment. He can identify his nose, ears, eyes, cheeks, hair, hands, feet, lips and knees. Now I haven't done the best at teaching them signs. He does know the few I've shown him. Eat, thirsty, sleep, milk. He is starting to talk alot more.



Words Isaac is saying at 20 months: Mama, Papa, Victor, dog, please (said twice), ball, shoe, goal, cracker, ouch, no, car, bye, where are you, I lu you






Jeremiah-He is till my active baby. He does most things first and makes sure to show his brothers, in case they haven't thought about it yet. He is not whiney at all and only crys when he really gets hurt, physically or emotionally. He gets his feeling hurt easily and is sensitive. Although he is the most daring he gets frightened by things the easiest. He is very quiet with people he doesn't know but is very chatty when he's comfortable. He also does the same few signs and recognizes the same body parts.



Words Jeremiah is saying at 20 months: Mama, Papa, Victor, dog, bellybutton, ball, shoe, goal, cracker, no, car, bye, thirsty, where are you.






Samuel- Is probably my most stubborn. He very much acts like the baby and loves to be carried around still. He tends to stay away a little bit from his brothers. Although Isaac and Jeremiah are very close they also fight the worst. Samuel is not a fighter therefore if its Samuel and either one of his brothers it's very peaceful. Samuel uses the signs the most and lets me know right away if he wants to eat or is thirsty. He tends to watch first then act. Which is the opposite of his brothers. Although he is still the smallest, he makes up for it in his attitude! He also identifies the same body parts.



Words Samuel is saying at 20 months: Mama, Papa, Victor, dog, ball, baby, shoe, goal, cracker, no (he uses this one the best and tells us no), bye bye, where are you.


Forgot to mention, when they say goal, it's with both arms in the air, and more like goalllllll! We are such a soccer family!


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