Giving Thanks...

This year, I am thankful to the photography gods for allowing me to capture a photo of all of Nana's grandchildren on Thanksgiving. Not only are they all present...they are all looking in the general direction of the camera...not one of them is sliding their body down the couch...not a single tear is being shed...and all the boys are wearing stripes. I swear that my SIL Julie & I did not plan that! In all seriousness, this is truly AMAZING - trust me on this.

Nolan, Nathan, Colin, Aidan, Brendan, Evan & Meredith

When the Leaves Came Tumbling Down

Nothing compares to Autumn in the Midwest. The year I lived in Washington State I missed the fall colors terribly. We really enjoyed the leaves this fall. When I say "we" I strictly mean the kiddos & myself. They drove Steve half crazy & he spent many Saturdays "dealing with the leaves" since we have so many mature Oak trees in our yard. He did get to thoroughly enjoy this little gem of a park we found near our house though. It has AMAZING trees, a lake & some mean trails. Someone has been begging for rollerblades for Christmas ever since...ummmm....the family bread winner does NOT need to be on rollerblades...I'm just saying! Meredith is in heaven when we go to this park. Mark my words, Miss Mimi will be the family athlete. She runs the entire length of these trails like the Energizer Bunny & isn't even winded. The boys on the other hand are begging to be carried halfway through...can you say spoiled???

One of my most favorite pictures of Meredith ever...

Evan LOVES the leaves!
Nolan
Our little runner...

Nater carrying his "stick" on the trails.

Wish he would show his baby teeth in a smile for once...their days are numbered.

Nolan - I think he's half-worried about snakes...as is his mother.

I Gotta Feeling...

Ever since the kiddos caught the Flash Mob Dance to the Black Eyed Peas on Oprah they have been obsessed! Anytime they all get bored & cranky I just blare this little piece of choreographic genius & all is right with the world. I don't know where Meredith was when I snapped these...she is usually front & center!

Nater

Nolan

Evan

Aidan

Nolan

Catching up...

Sorry I've been a little MIA lately. One of my many excuses is that I've been washing dishes by hand for the last few weeks. I know...whaaaaaah! Seriously though...it's given me a new found respect for my mother making it through our toddler years without the sweet buzzzzz of a dishwasher. Our new one gets delivered tomorrow & I think I might even shed a tear when that little beauty arrives. Anyhow...be prepared for massive postings! Like I said...I'M CATCHING UP!

Aidan won the Fire Department Coloring Contest at his school & he thinks it's no big deal.

He won an Award for Straight A's & another for Art Achievement at the awards assembly...again no reaction.

Now blowing a bubble is another story entirely...the kid wants a trophy! Yes, you heard correctly...Aidan Donovan has finally learned to blow a bubble!!! Too funny...it's always the small stuff that makes this kid shine with pride!

Fight for Preemies

November is Prematurity Awareness Month. 543,000 babies are born too soon each year. 13 babies will die today due to complications of an early birth. I truly believe that the amazing work that has been done by the March of Dimes is why my children survived & are healthy. Looking back at pictures of Nolan, Evan, Nathan & Meredith in the NICU; every fiber of my being knows that it is truly a miracle that they all survived. We were as mentally prepared as possible to see our babies in the NICU, but the reality of that moment is still frightening & shocking. Nothing can prepare you to watch your baby (or babies) fighting for their life. I still find it extremely difficult to look at NICU photos of my babies. Today I celebrate how far my 4 have come & how proud I am to call them my children. They truly are fighters. I have so much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. At the top of my list are the amazing doctors & nurses at St. Mary's, our fabulous pediatrician - Dr. Bob & his entire staff, but most of all I am grateful to the March of Dimes for fighting the good fight...BECAUSE BABIES SHOULDN'T HAVE TO.

All 1 lb, 13 oz. of Meredith fighting...this little girl was our prize fighter. She came out swinging & hasn't stopped since.

We truly didn't know what Nathan looked like for the first week of his life. He was on CPAP & later didn't tolerate being held very well. He was our biggest baby (3 lbs, 1 oz) and he had to fight harder than the other 3 to survive. Bigger babies usually do well, but I think in Nathan's case he was just fine hanging out in my lungs & soaking up all the calories.

Sweet Evan...back then I called him "Baby Love" because he loved when I would hum songs by The Supremes. I think he inherited a love-gene for The Supremes from his Nanu.
Nolan...one of the happiest days of my life will always be the day we were finally able to hold them.

Aidan Meets E-Man

Aidan has been so excited to meet Ethan. He was so upset that the hospital was not allowing children on Michelle's floor. We headed out to Michelle & Chris' Friday night & Aidan thought E-Man was adorable! Aidan is a natural around babies. I guess you could say he's had a little practice...just a LITTLE!

Aidan & Ethan

My Grand-quads...

Nolan is such a good daddy to his four little baby dolls! Trust me, quadruplets are a handful & he keeps them swaddled, checks their diapers regularly, feeds them & most of all showers his babies with affection! He has this quadruplets thing down!!!

I'm telling you ladies...this guy is going to be a keeper!

Notice that he is even kissing the baby we call "Hot Mess!"
She has hair & no matter what you do that stuff is ALWAYS disgusting! Can't Mattel create some hair products for dolls already?!?!?