Park and Acid reflux

I was able to make Abs an appointment for this morning about her vomiting. I like the new doctor. He checked her out...I gave her brief history of formula and he came up with the conclusion she most likely just has acid reflux. It makes sense...I think she's been battling it from day 1, she just now can hold her own bottle which means she's lying down which isn't good for her if she has an underdeveloped muscle. And so she's on ZanTac and we're giving it at least 2 weeks to see if it solves the problem as well as the little things I can do for her. Oh it'll be so nice if this is the end of this issue.

On the way out of the medical clinic, I was caught off guard by a stranger coming up and talking to me. She just wanted to let me know she sees me around a lot and is amazed I always seem so put together and how well behaved my children are. I'm not writing this to brag...it was just so nice to hear...especially after yesterday...when I felt like I was falling apart. Between that and Dan's email he sent me this morning, it encourages me and I don't feel like I'm always failing at raising my girls.

We then decided lunch on base sounded like a good idea, so we headed to the park first and played.

Oh and the comment that made me laugh today...."Weren't phones the size of shoe boxes when you were my age?" Madison...what a booger!

Life with 5 girls under one roof

I am still so surprised how fast this summer is going. The girls and I have been sick for a good majority. We had another battle with the stomach flu...I didn't get it this time...I'm just lacking sleep from being up with the girls. Madison cut the inside of her ear with a q-tip...yes it's possible...and came down crying that her ear was bleeding. I saw the blood...was concerned but not enough to drag 3 other kids to the ER. And so later that night she complained of being dizzy and I again felt it wasn't an emergency (I didn't know it was the q-tip at this time) we stayed up watching Time Machine and I took her in the next morning. She luckily didn't hurt her ear drum...just the canal...and so we've been drowning it with hydrogen peroxide hoping she doesn't get swimmers ear. Abs has been throwing up like a mad woman. I was talking to my sister and she suggested it might be the food. I will need to take her in tomorrow. I've never been so thrown up on I was completely soaked. She's also managed to pee on me...yes my fault since her diaper wasn't on, I was taking her to the bath tub, but she peed on me! Hannah decided to give herself some front layers. Luckily she didn't go that short this time...I say this time since we're on I think the 4th time. My aspiring hair stylist...she could save me a fortune if she goes into that profession. My girls have been super tired too lately. I tried putting Abs in the crib with Bells in her bed...we did that two nights...I'm very tired with the one or other one waking up every hour. So Abs will just continue to sleep in my bed since that's where I get the most sleep...maybe some day I will have the bed to myself. Although, when she was sleeping in her crib, Madison managed to make her way into it....it makes me laugh...this bed thing was such a BIG no no with Madison and Hannah. I'm slowly not caring anymore...life is too short...I'm not going to stress about kids climbing into my bed in the middle of the night. That and the fact Dan isn't here. I've been able to get away at least once a week. It's been nice...to be honest, it's not that hard being a "single mom." Dan does help out a lot but honestly, once we got our routine down, we're just fine. It's not that hard to cloth, bathe, feed and clean and entertain 4 kids. I miss more the moral support and talking with my best friend. I miss him seeing all the things the girls are doing. Abs now crawls backwards. She's really wanting to be a big kid...I love how she sticks out her tongue when she's concentrating or laughing. She's also big into giving me kisses...sometimes I feel like I just washed my face. They are that slobbery. It's adorable...all my girls are so adorable.

Think good thoughts

We really like listening to Colbie Caillat in our house...whenever she comes on, we all start singing away. I tend to think of Madison being 3 years old and knowing the lyrics to all her songs when she first became popular with the "Bubbly" song. This song has been a song we play a lot in our house lately...we start our mornings with it:



I love the words...we've been trying to be a lot more positive around our house lately...it's hard sometimes when I'm at my wits end with the girls and don't have Dan around to help me out...but really I can't complain...I have fantastic girls...each with their own strengths and I know it's hard on them not having their dad around. I have been able to see those strengths come out lately...and how they are just growing up way too fast. I love Madison's heart...she is really sweet and thoughtful...I also love her argumentative side...it's annoying at the time and frustrates me so...but I see a lot of me in her...I sit back and laugh sometimes after our conversation because I think I've had it before but I was on her end. Hannah is my comic relief on a daily basis...the things she says...oh Hannah. Like today was how she really didn't want to listen to Brad Paisley's "Remind Me." She doesn't like vampires...and she is convinced he is one since he wants to kiss her neck which really means he wants to suck her blood...that kid...where does she come up with these things?! Bells is just so much fun...I love how she just sits on me and cuddles. That was her and Dan's thing but she's found it is OK to use me as a seat. I also love how sweet she is to her baby sister...and how she says "night night" and yells "mom" if she hasn't heard me in the last minute. She gets excited when she sees an airplane and windmills thrill her...she loves the drive up through Chatteris so she can see them. Abs is just so happy. Her sweet smile melts my heart...and I love how she squeals since she already knows that in this family, you have to speak up....especially when there is Hannah who has the volume of loud and louder. She's learning things every day...and it makes me all fuzzy inside when the girls get just as excited when Abs does something new that day. And Dan, even though he's far away...I love how he gets all mushy...it's cute...and how he laughs at my cheeseballness...yes that is a word...and we can just look at each other via FaceTime and not say anything and just be happy that we're kind of together...although sometimes it just makes me miss him that much more. We are down 35 days....who knows how much longer in the big picture, but I just like the fact that this past month has gone by pretty fast. I have so much to be thankful for...I have so many great people in my life...life is good.

My little thrill seeker

That would be Bells. We were at a friends house and she has girls Madison and Hannah's age. Their girls have these 4 wheelers that can go...as in pretty fast. Hannah was down by Bells and Bells got on and figured out how to get it going! My friend and I panicked as we saw Bells zoom away on this thing...luckily, and I say luckily because things could have been so much worse...she ran into one of the brick columns and it stopped the bike. She came out with just a few scratches on her face. I think the vine that wraps around the column saved her...it acted as a cushion. That Bells...and we were worried about the ponds she has in her garden...who knew she'd figure out how to make the bike go...she had to turn the key, turn the handle to switch it into gear and then press the pedal. She's just too smart for her own good!

A request

Hannah and Madison both have asked my mom to make them a quilt when she has asked them what they want for their birthday. Madison's came in the mail today...she was beyond excited.

My mom asked her what colors she wanted and she came up with this! Madison LOVES it! She also did what my mom said to do...wrap herself in it and feel a big hug from Grandma Nancy. She still has the blanket wrapped around. I think she'll be like that all day.

She's 8!

I can't believe it...Madison hit 8 yesterday. I kept telling her we really should be celebrating it the 9th here in England since technically she was born at 7:59 pm in Virginia Beach and with the time zone difference...she didn't buy it. And so we celebrated her birthday with lots of laughs, food and presents...the most important part! The only person we were missing was Dan. She decided she didn't want a party and so the girls and I will be seeing The Wizard of Oz in London instead. They are excited. They love seeing shows and so do I!

I can't believe how grown up she's looking lately. She's a beautiful girl...both inside and out. We're too much alike...personality wise...that can make things a little hard...but we're both learning. She's always so thoughtful, making cards and notes for everyone, cuddling with Bells when they are watching TV, helping me make dinner and setting the table as well as doing her "many" chores I make her do. She's really stepped up since Dan has been away. I love that girl!!! I just can't believe she's 8...it feels like Dan and I just brought her home from the hospital!