Life Happens

We have survived our first semester. I am proud of Todd and his hard work and dedication. I think he did fabulous! However I am not allowed to talk about it. It's a weird law school thing. On the other hand, I can talk about how I did. Thankfully there was a generous curve, and I managed scrape by.

All the visits we have had have kept me going. Todd's parents were here in October. It was so great to have them. We took a trip to Williamsburg and enjoyed all the history and the beach.

My sister and Brother-in-law were here for a brief weekend in December. We packed in a few D.C. activities, and some wine country tours.

We spent two weeks in Orlando over Christmas with Todd's family making memories at Disney World.

Then my parents came towards the end of January. It was so nice to have them, and to show them around Charlottesville and D.C.

I have also made so many great friends. Seana, my neighbor inspires me. She has 4 children very close to the ages of my kids. Her husband is in a Cardiology fellowship. So she knows just exactly how I feel and she has proved to be a pillar to me! She is the only one who can pull my butt out of bed at 5am. I ran with her in the fall and am looking forward to doing it this spring too.

Merrie, you have saved me! Helped me escape for time away with my husband and been such a resource of knowledge and understanding with everything! Merrie runs VLF(Virginia Law Families), even though they call her husband the president. No offense Kirk. Kirk and Todd, we have decided were twins separated at birth. From attending the same college in the same dorm hall at the same time, to the same careers and of course let us not forget, AMAZING taste in wives. Let's just call it like it is, right?

There is Jaime who is at my door if she even hears I am having a hard time. She likes to ring my doorbell and take off leaving me bagels, and other goodies. She calls me just to chat, and when we can get away, we do it over a glass of wine. I am so blessed, and that's just naming a few.

I have been really tested over these past few months. My husband is my rock. While he is so busy with his workload, he has never hesitated to put his family first. I love that man!

Swimming

OK, OK. So it's a hot summer day and I am about to go swimming and I know the water is going to feel fantastic once I get in, but it's just cool enough that I can't get past my knees.

Role of the pool will be played by my blog!

What the heck! Do you know how many times I have waded into a new post, and just haven't been able to finish it. I guess this is life with 5 kids, and a husband in law school. 6 months have flown by so fast I don't even know if it can be summed up. I've had such a hard time trying to figure out just where to begin and how to tie it all together.

But here we go again. Sometimes it's best to just jump in!

Thanks for the swim.

First Day of School

Spare Change

Olivia has such a kind heart. So much so that she spent 17 dollars of her birthday money, and tooth fairy money on her sisters for their birthday. Her sisters had their hearts set on a little doll they had seen in some store. Paige and Claire tend to be in the here and now. They want it, there is nothing they could possible want more later, they have to have it!!! Yes, it's dramatic like that too. I ignore it, not Olivia. So Todd made sure that's what she wanted to do with her money and helped her with the purchases. She was so excited she couldn't stand it. Paige and Claire of course were thrilled for a week, and now their new dolls are not quite so exciting. They were itching to spend their birthday money and gift cards.

So when it came time to empty piggy banks into purses, Olivia ran to gather her money too. She had a few dollars that she had conned out of grandpa and change. She was just as excited till we got to the store and I showed her what she could afford. She was so bummed. It was so hard not to give her more money. Daddy gave her a big hug and whispered "remember how happy your sister were?" She did, but it didn't help much.

She has been busy collecting pennies and dimes she finds around the house and she sold me a key chain she made a while back. She also begged for me to let her set up a table so she could sell some of her most valuable things. She was so determined so I let her.

I threw 50 cents in the jar to get her started, but sad to say she had no takers. Not even on the free ones. I felt that maybe had she said "Idaho rocks for sale" then she may have had an edge. I imagine she will take mail orders.

She is also willing to give make-overs. I have seen the outcome of these though, and I would advise you to buy some rocks!

Man, I love that girl!

So far

Here's just a little look into what we have been up to since arriving in C'ville.

There are over 22 miles of nature trails that loop around town called the Rivanna Trails. Todd has been looking into them trying to find a route to get him to school, only to find out that they are really not meant for mountain biking. He was constantly having to get off the bike, to go over downed trees. Then he would come home covered in mud because the bike stopped, but he didn't. One day it took him 30 minutes to go three miles and it was then he decided it would be safer to ride on the main road than to take the trails!

That hasn't kept him off the trails though, he has been up early every morning to go running. He comes home everyday to tell us about the deer he sees and how close he was. So one afternoon we all went out to have a look. While we didn't see any deer we enjoyed the beautiful walk.

Deer seem to be everywhere. We were having dinner one evening when one of the kids spotted the deer across the street in the neighbors lawn. There were 4, three does and one buck.

Last Sunday we took the kids to the splash park and had a picnic.

Our Blueberry bushes are going crazy! I am having a hard time keeping up. I have a gallon frozen already. They just keep on coming.

I need to get better about taking pictures and I will work on it but just want to share with you what I have.

Todd starts orientation tomorrow!

Better out than in I always say

Three months old now and just as squishy as ever! Ben stops people where ever we go. They have to rub his soft down hair and catch a glimpse of his gummy smile. Squish, squish, squish, you could seriously eat this kiddo!!!

Poor little Ben had a rough bout this month with constipation. It probably bothered me more than it did him, but it lasted long enough that I think it is blog worthy. I actually wasn't that worried at first. I have had enough kids and asked the Dr. enough times to know that breastfed babies don't get constipated. It's a very rare thing (kind of like having twins and a vasectomy failing after 2 years). Boy we have all the luck, don't we? Anyway, I didn't even mention it at his 2 month check which he was like at day 8 of no pooping, because he passed gas regularly and seemed just as happy as ever. Well about 2 or 3 days after that I got called home from a mommy night out because he wouldn't stop crying. Of course by the time I got home he was fast asleep. Todd and I figured constipation was probably the culprit.

The next day however, probably deserves it's own post, everything happened all at once, and I was also right in the middle of packing up our house. The kids were bored with all the toys being packed up. The novelty of playing outside had worn off, they were hungry and all needed my attention, and Ben was screaming. I called Todd to let him know he was needed ASAP, and then called the Dr. to see if I could give Ben a little laxative. The Dr. gave me the ok, so I left Olivia in charge locked the little monsters, I mean the kids out of my room and grabbed one of Aaron's diapers. After all, I knew Ben's wouldn't hold what was coming, because I was still trying to fit his 15 lbs into a size two! The poor little guy let go and must have lost 2 lbs!

I wish that was the end of it, but it doesn't stop there. He didn't poop again for well over 2 weeks! And I am telling you that his gas could clear a room! On our trip here Grandpa actually rolled the windows down! It was that bad. Oh and I have a wonderful handy Udder cover made by the amazing Miranda, but when I feed him and he passes gas it all escapes right in my face! It's like cup-a-fooey basically. Nasty. You definitely don't want to be holding him when he does it either, because most people will look at you like they knew the baby didn't do that! Oh my word I couldn't make this up if I tried.

You will all be happy to know that he finally seems to be getting a bit more regular and the gas while still bad, is getting better. If you can say that gas gets better.

Poor Ben will probably hate me one day for writing this. How could I not though?

Here is how he has grown this month!

9 weeks

10 weeks

11 weeks

spent most of that week in a car!

12 weeks