Sunday, December 28, 2008

Breaking Dawn

I've finished the last book of the Twilight series. It was a very good series and quite honestly there were some surprises in the 4th book that I hadn't thought of. But the authors target audience were teenagers so I can see that in some of the plots and things. Now I can go see the movie Twilight. I think I'm going to be disappointed because I really liked the book. And I saw the actress who plays Bella on Dave Letterman and she didn't have a thought in her head, which still can make her a good actress, but just disappointing in general.

Not sure what I'm going to read next.

I got sick AGAIN yesterday. I have my cold back with a vengeance. My medicine was done on Wednesday and this hit me Friday night. So I wonder if it didn't kick out my sinus infection.

I seriously bought everything under the sun to make me better. Vitamin C, these anti-oxidant drinks, more vitamins, fruit. The kids don't seem to be getting it, so maybe it is bacterial.

I'd appreciate a lot of prayers directed my way this week. I need patience and strength for my task ahead.

Potty training.

I bought two Baby Bjorn potty chairs, a bunch of that thick underwear, plastic underpants, and a gumball machine.

That will be their incentive, if they sit or go, they get a penny to put in the machine and M&Ms will come out.

I was only going to train one at a time, but they all want to come into the bathroom and try. So I'm trying plan B.

I have been dreading this moment ever since I found out I was having triplets. I hope its going to be better than I imagined.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Christmas pictures part deux

Santa again. Jacob says he wants to dress up as Santa again next year.

My kids sat together on a chair at Grandma Plamanns. Brooke was busy looking bored and picking her nose. John was trying to reach for something on the divider and then he was goofing around and Matthew was just busy drinking his milk and then he decided that Brooke must have had something good with picking her nose and joined in.

Uncle Jim loves to tease Brooke. Brooke isn't really fond of Uncle Jim. Well, I think she likes him because he has a dog, but she does NOT like to be teased. So Uncle Jim likes to get really close to her and asks her if she wants to be held by him.





















Friday, December 26, 2008

Christmas pictures
















Some of my favorite pictures from Christmas...





Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Is that chocolate on your face?


So today, I felt ambitious, I felt self-confident. I was going to tackle the Ghiradelli chocolate covered oreos and turtles today. With the babies. And not tie them down.

So I heated up some chocolate and gave them their own bowls and oreos.

As you can see, each child has a different way of dipping and eating their cookies. Some are a little neater than others and Johnny really likes to get his hands, face, sweatshirt and area all around him dirty.
John's two cookies that survived are on the top right of the pan. He did a good job considering he is two.
As I'm trying to make turtles (by myself) John and Brooke were underfoot. John was just trying to help. But Brooke was very whiney and cried a lot today. She didn't lay down for a nap and neither did Matthew and John. It was a llloooonnnnggg day.
Jacob had his Christmas program tonight and he did very well. The babies, surprisingly, did not make a peep. They were so tired they just sat on laps and really just zoned out.



















Monday, December 22, 2008

Odd behavior





2 year olds can be a lot of fun. They can also be very peculiar. I just noticed I don't blog as much about Matthew as I do John (especially John).






Matthew is a sweet loving, well-adjusted child. He's the child that you dream of having. Smiley, listens most of the time, low-maintenance, good sleeper. Low-maintenance is the key here. This kid just plays by himself, happily for long periods of time. Hes not demanding or whiney or clingy. And his disposition is so easy going. And when you ask him something, in his cutesy soft voice he says, "Yes, please."






John is not a polar opposite of Matthew, but in some cases you'd think they came from a different gene pool. John is full of joy, he's a leader, he's inventive, hes stubborn, he doesn't transition well, he seeks sensory input and he's demanding, whiney and clingy. (Look how he's hanging on to Matthew in this picture) Double click on any picture to see it enlarged.












John's latest thing is to act like a cat. He crawls through my legs like Cosmo does, rolls on his belly to be rubbed, Meows all the time, licks furniture (including refrigerators, cabinets, miscellaneous objects, and walks on all fours. I've even heard him Meow to get out of his crib. It is a little disturbing when you see so much of the behavior. He couldn't pick Diego or Dora to act out, could he?






Previously I had posted that Brooke has tendencies like a certain dictator in history. She is in charge and lets you know it by her voice. Its, "sit down, nooowww!" and "NO hittting!" and a lot of swatting done by her. And on the other hand, she can be quite loving and nurturing. She's very good about doing what I ask her too. Bringing things to the boys, picking up, helping. And she's very affectionate with me and has to give me hugs and kisses whenever I leave or just because. Brooke is going through that phase that she better get her way or else. The or else part can pain me because it means yelling, hitting and kicking. Also, she seems to always be yelling when she talks. Its always in a grumpy tone of voice.










Now, I don't think I model that behavior, do I? I'm sure she just takes my phrases and makes them her own, right?






Sunday, December 21, 2008

No rest for the weary



So today I gift wrapped at Barnes & Noble and then Scott and I had greasy hamburgers. Didn't feel so well on my stomach afterwards so I thought I should lay down.

That's me under the blanket. Brooke is behind me jabbing her elbows and knees into me when she wasn't busy pulling my hair and giving me kisses.



Matthew is sitting on top of me playing with cars, John is playing with cars on my legs.

And Jacob just joined the picture because hes so photogenic.



Two peas in a pod. These two get into more trouble together, but it tickles me to see how much fun they have together.



I know. I won the kid lottery. Sometimes its beyond words...











There is something in the air


Alrighty, alrighty, ALRIGHTY! I know some of you have thought I forgot to take pictures of my kids. But I've just been plain lazy about getting them on the computer. Well, and sometimes a week does go by and I realize I have not documented my children's life.










This is not such a travesty since some of us only have, like, three pictures of when we were babies. And sometimes those pictures were even shared with siblings, so I'm not sure that they even count.










Jacob is such a sweet boy. Today Matthew had a "loose" diaper and we had to change all of his clothing and bedding. Jacob immediately got him a bowl so he could throw up in and made him some toast. Then he got him crackers to eat because Matthew had a "fever". Fever is code for when Jacob doesn't feel good and throws up. So it doesn't necessarily mean that there was a fever involved.






This is probably the last time anyone will see the four of them in the bathtub. Its getting too crowded, its getting too rowdy (as you can see from John throwing a cup of water) and Jacob has been doing somewhat lewd things in the tub.
Now, that's my definition of lewd, not a 5 year olds. Hes obsessed with certain body parts and likes to make them jiggle. That's all I'm going to say.
I'll post more pictures in another post as I haven't figure out how to post more than 5 at a time.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Christmas to do list

You know that saying, "life isn't always a bowl of cherries, or a box of chocolates?" Well, thats kind of what life has been like for me - not a bowl of cherries. But its not always mushy cereal either.

I'm just recovering from a sinus infection/cold. And last night, I turn over in my sleep and wham! I got the stomach flu/bug/virus.

So, my christmas cards/letters are 95% sent out, some of my christmas candy is made, and none of my presents are wrapped.

So I guess I'll help Santa wrap presents tonight or tomorrow and then finish the third book of the Twilight series. Still good - still on the edge of my seat.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Callaway Christmas letter

This is the Christmas letter I sent out with all the cards. So consider this your letter...



It is less than a week away from Christmas and I am just getting around to sending out Christmas cards.

This year has been plagued by hospital visits and sickness. Since this fall, the kids and I have had a couple of colds, John has had two ear infections and Brooke and Matthew have had one. Luckily this was the first time since they were born that they got ear infections.

Jacob goes to 1/2 day kindergarten and a full day on Wednesday. He acts like he doesn't want to go to school (and will frequently tell me that he's sick or got a fever in the morning), but he seems happy once he gets there. I was surprised to find out recently that he is reading. Its amazing the things they do in kindergarten now versus when Scott and I were in kindergarten.

Jacob has had an interesting year with hospital visits too. He "ground" off part of his thumbnail on the grinder in spring and then a few months later cut the tip of a finger off on the boat trailer. (Long story) He has recovered very well and his index finger is only a little shorter than the other finger on the other hand.

Matthew had stitches in his thumb in February as he got into a childproof cabinet and broke a bowl.

John has some graphite in his temple due to getting a little bit too close to Brooke. That was the first and last time I gave them pencils.

I had carpal tunnel surgery in October on my right hand. It’s been interesting trying to take care of the kids while nursing a bum hand.

On a happier note, Scott, his dad, and Jacob discovered an old hobby this past summer. Fishing on Lake Michigan. Yes, Jacob would get up with the boys at 3 a.m. and go fishing on Lake Michigan. They had a lot of fun catching trout and salmon.
Even though some things will not get done before Christmas, the most important gift I can give the children is telling them of Jesus’ birth. We’re starting a new tradition and having a cake for Jesus’ birthday.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

New Moon

O.K. two things (or more) are consuming my life. I have a sinus infection that is so painful. I have medication for it and I hope it starts working soon. I took some hydrocodone last night for the pain and it didn't touch it. So I'm not sure why people steal that because I felt nothing.

And secondly, I finished Twilight and now am into New Moon. I cried through Twilight and have been sobbing through New Moon. I don't think that itself gives anything away except that it is extremely well written on how the author, Stephanie Meyers, describes her characters and their feelings.

I have decided when I grow up I want to be a literature teacher. I know these books are written for Tweens. But honestly, I don't know if they get the depth of the characters at that age. I think that's why I cry. Or maybe I just am trying to relieve the pressure of my sinus infection.

And to reminisce, this was the week that I found out that I was pregnant with triplets 3 years ago. I still sometimes can't believe I have triplets. Or four kids for that matter. I feel like moments of my life have been fast-forwarded and others are on pause.

Children are such a great gift from God. They are all unique and each present challenges and joys of parenting. One thing this season is that I have not been able to get my Christmas cards out yet, the trees are half decorated, no candy has been made, etc... I'm in the Christmas spirit due to Jacob coming home to school and singing his Christmas songs and learning his part for the program.

The important things about this season are all about Jesus anyway. I think Santa is a representation of generosity and good will and that is a very important lesson to teach the kids too.

Anyway, off to parent my children. Or make sure that they don't open the oven, the refrigerator, the child-proof locks, climb on furniture, dive from the furniture, throw their toys and beat on each other.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Twilight

I've been bitten. I stayed up until 1 a.m. reading Twilight last night and I am half way done.

I've always been interested in vampire stories. Its the novel idea of being alive forever and being invisible. The dark, menacing side of a thing that has no God, but knows that there is one. And every author that I have read always has some type of love story woven in.

I also watched "Wedding Date" last night too. Very cute movie. Unrealistic that a escort suddenly falls for one of his clients. Or is it? :)

I almost felt the way I did before I had kids. Relaxing on the couch, reading a book, watching a movie, Cosmo on my lap. It was a teaser of what life is going to be like in 16 years.


Oh-its a butt.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Jacob's obsession

Jacob has been obsessed with drawing these.

Do you know what it is? Three guesses...

And by the way, not only does he draw them on paper and Magnadoodles, apparently he likes to draw them on walls too. Santa sees all and he ain't happy.



Sunday, December 7, 2008

Sensory stuff









So I wanted to make a sensory blanket/luvie for a little girl I had mentioned in a previous post.


This was the first time I made a doll/person taggie blanket versus the old square blanket.



Scott thinks the head looks like Wilson.



Friday, December 5, 2008

Dent specialist?

I've been sick since Sunday. I feel like the insides of a toilet. But enough about me.

Brooke has been a champ with her medicine - nebulizer. She is almost at 100%. John has the same cold I do. Poor boy. Matthew seems to be immune to this one! Yipee! Jacob just has a cough. Scott said his throat is sore today, which is how mine started out.

A few days ago as I was walking past a TV, I caught part of a conversation and it really stuck with me.

Boston Legal (guy who looks like Captain James Kirk from StarTrek) "Life is not always a fair playing field."

I have said this over and over in my head and really thought about the meaning of this. It really sums up a lot of the feelings I have.

With regards to:

Women vs Men
Why we give birth and do all the hard work
Why some people are "different" than others
Why our children come home from school upset and crying over careless remarks.
Why others get things so easily and others struggle just to "get it".
Why its not worth harboring ill thoughts towards others and situations.
Why prayer is so important.
Why we really need to remember that when we think we are in a bad situation, that there are others who are in a worse situation.

And lastly, a joke from Jacob.

Jacob was talking about how Scott fell off the ladder and onto the truck on the way to school on Monday. (And Scott is o.k.)
Jacob: Daddy dented the truck.
Momma: Yes he did, but he didn't hurt himself.
Jacob: Do you think we should call a dentist?

Hehehehehehe!