Merry Merry Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas spent in Kansas City with my brother, Ryan, his wife, Rachel and their two kiddos, Caroline (4) and Max (2). Tom's parents joined us on Christmas Day for dinner...an amazing prime rib that Ryan prepared. We really missed the rest of the family but doubt they had much time to miss us as they were busy gallivanting across England and France..rough.
We had a great time decorating Giant Gingerbread Men (thanks Molly!), making beaded candy canes, decorating sugar cookies to leave out for Santa, and lots of playing.
Here are some pictures of our week...











Hope you all had a wonderful holiday...here's to a fantastic new year!

"Hold Me Closer Tiny Dancer"

Mallory has really gotten into the spirit of the season and has become quite the little dancer.

We are a household of superheros this season.... hoping we stay super healthy through the winter months!


Mallory eating pretzels...she mostly just mashes them up and spits them out just in time to put the goo in her hair..it is just lovely! We did have a nutrition appointment yesterday and she gained weight! Up to 16 lbs. 6.5 oz., that is over a pound in a month! Finally!


Kate at Johnson Farms hiding in the ship...I love the face she is giving my mom; it is so her.


Jack at Johnson Farms, he looks so old in this photo!


The three super heros...Spiderman, Wonder Woman and Supergirl.

So True!!!!

I just got an email from a friend with a link to a "diary" of 3 minutes in the mind of a two year old. I am still laughing....it's funny cause it is sooo true!

Each of these “emotions” lasts about 3 seconds.
I wanna play with Daddy’s phone.
I wanna put on Mommy’s shoes.
GET MOMMY’S SHOES OFF MY FEET NOW!
I wanna open and close the thermostat.
I wanna turn on and off the light on the microwave.
Is there anyone here with a phone I haven’t played with yet?
I NEED TO PUSH SOME GODDAMN BUTTONS.
I wanna pick up the cat by its head.
I wanna throw all the toothbrushes in the sink.
HOLY SHIT I’M STARVING.
CHEDDAR BUNNIES.
I HATE FRUIT.
I want out of my chair.
I wanna play with the iPad.
I wanna go outside. No, I wanna turn the heat on.
I wanna take my pants off.
I don’t like the shirt I’m wearing.
I wanna play with Mommy’s phone.
I NEED TO PUSH MORE BUTTONS NOW.
I’m thirsty.
No, not for that.
Yes, perfect, juicebox. I’m gonna squeeze this damn thing all over myself.
Where’s Daddy?
Where’s the cat?
Where’s Mommy?.
SERIOUSLY WHERE’S MOMMY!?
Oh my God I think Mommy left forever.
Ok, there’s mommy. I want to play with her phone
Hungry again. Never mind
I just remembered not liking these pants. Get them off.
STOP TAKING OFF MY PANTS!
Wow, I’m starving. I want peas but I don’t know how to tell anyone.
Finally, peas. I like throwing these.
WHY DO I STILL HAVE THESE PANTS ON?
Oh look, a new person. I wonder if they have a phone.
I’m tired.
I’M NOT TIRED!
I wanna go for a walk but I don’t wanna go outside.
No, not inside either!
I need to push some buttons right now.
I hate this diaper.
My eyes itch.
WOW! Is this my toe?
STOP TRYING TO TAKE MY PANTS OFF!
I hate these pants.
This shirt itches.
I’m tired.
Stop asking me if I’m tired.
Where’s that toy that goes beep.
I wanna take a bath in my clothes.
Put on my favorite song.
Where’s the cat?
What is UP with my shirt?
Did I just hear a dog bark?
YOU DID NOT JUST TRY TO TAKE OFF MY SHIRT AGAIN!
I wanna see a dog.
No, not OUTSIDE! I wanna see a dog inside.
Is my penis still there? Good.
I peed.
I’m bored.
Repeat.

http://jasongood.net/365/2011/08/day-215-approximately-3-minutes-inside-the-head-of-my-2-year-old/

Tired?!

Summer...where did it go?!

We have had a busy summer. Lots going on in our household...Kate is walking, Mallory is crawling and Jack is climbing and jumping everything! To keep this house picked up would be a miracle...but I wouldn't have it any other way (except maybe if I had a maid service twice a week)! Here are some photos to sum up the wonderful times we had these past few months...


Jack spent hours playing and jumping in his pool on our deck...really surprised he didn't end up with any stitches from his daredevil tactics.


Kate is more of a lounger when it comes to pool time...my kind of girl! I'll take a different kind of bottle though...


Jack got a sprinkler game for his birthday and Tom had a good time running through it with all three kiddos.


Kate loves to pull out all, and I mean ALL of the contents in the cabinets...remember my talk of a messy house?..


Water tables are good for hours of entertainment!


Jack playing with his buddy Preston!


Mallory enjoying the lovely weather!


More to come.....FALL!!!!

All Work and No Play Makes Jack a Dull Boy....

Jack at 6 Months



Opening presents on his 3rd Birthday!


Well I am way behind in posting Jack's big birthday! On May 10th this wonderful boy turned 3! Amazing and incredible to think of the last three years as he has grown and become such a fun and compassionate kid. I started the tradition of writing a little note on my kids birthdays, so here it goes:

Jack,
Wow! 3 years have really flown by...how is it that you are already this little, super inquisitive little boy? You are a wonder and I can actually see you learning new things everyday, it's an amazing thing to witness! What a year you have had, and you have taken it in stride. I was worried about you and how you would adjust to having two little sisters to share the spotlight. No worries! You adjusted without any stumbles, it was as if you never realized there was a time without them. I love watching you play with Kate (although I may be wincing at your body slams) and showing her how to play with legos, climb stairs/furniture...you get such a kick out of her following you, I love it! I get to see a softer side when you interact with Mallory. You encourage her and get so excited when she accomplishes something new. "Hey MOM! Mallory is rolling over! Yah Mallory!!" You are such an amazing little boy! I think the most amazing thing about watching you over this last year is how your relationships are developing; with your sisters and your friends. Can't wait to see what next year will bring!
Thank you for improving my patience!
Love you,
Mommy

We had a wonderful weekend filled with activities. My brother Ryan and his family drove in from Ohio on Friday, May 13 (Ryan's birthday) and we all, sans kids, went out to celebrate Ryan and Sean's (May 10) birthdays. Saturday was a day of BBQ/Friends/Family at Julie's house and Sunday was Jack's big Jump Party at Monkey Bizness. Jack has been talking about this party for about a month. We had a great turn out and I believe everyone had a blast! I think I am still recovering!

Here are some pictures from the party day. I took about a hundred photos and was unable to get one of Jack standing still...there is a super cute photo of Ms. Ellen Lund, she needs to teach Jack how to pose!

525,600 Minutes

Well, we survived our first year as a family of five. I remember reading somewhere that your first year as a parent is definitely one of survival, and I remember thinking this was ridiculous at Jack's first birthday party. Sure there were major changes with Jack, least of which was the excessive lack of sleep but I feel Tom and I breezed through that first year. Who are these people that can't handle one little child?! Whoa...someone heard me and boy was I put in my place.
I have found myself responding to those who are amazed that the girls are already a year with one phrase..."it's been a LONG year." I do not mean for this to sound depressing or melancholic, it just simply is how I feel. We expanded our family from three to five, moved twice, three hospital stays since December, surgery and about five million Doctor appointments. So I feel entitled to feel a little relieved that we made it...intact.
This last year has truly been one of survival. It has had ups and downs, surprises around every bend. I have learned things about myself that I never knew before this year. I am sure these beautiful girls will continue to teach me about love and life and all of it's surprises.

I have a friend who writes letters on her kiddos birthday and I really like the sentiment. Cheesy?, For sure, but I am feeling particularly sentimental tonight...so here it goes:

Kate,
On the eve of your first birthday I am amazed and totally in love with you. You were so eager to come into our lives, five weeks early! You brighten my day, every day. As I was looking through old photos I came across ones with you and Mallory in the NICU, and I was amazed to realize that I had forgotton you came to us bruised and battered. You were born with a black eye and a large bruise across the bridge of your nose. You were so small (4lbs 7oz.) and to be perfectly honest you were the one we worried about the most. A full year later and you are so full of spunk! Your giggle is infectious and your smile so warming to the soul. I am delighted to be your mother and can't wait to see what you'll do next. Happy Birthday!
I love you beautiful girl!

Mallory,
On the eve of your first birthday I can say you have changed me for the better. You are so very special and wonderful. You have a soft nature that grabs the love of everyone you meet. You are so strong; stronger than anyone I have ever met. Life is going to hand you some curves and I want you to know that I will always be behind you, your biggest supporter. I feel truly blessed to have been chosen to be your mother. You have made me a better person, thank you.
I love you beautiful girl!

Wow...what will the next year bring us? I wish for health, love and happiness! I look forward to keeping you all up-to-date on our year to come.

Overwhelmed.

Overwhelmed is putting it lightly...lots to deal with, lots to catch up on, and lots of pictures to post. Below are 19 photos, and it was hard to keep it to less than 50! Life is slowing down a bit and I like it that way. For some reason blogspot is downloading my photos in draft form as computer language and not actual photos, so I apologize for the lack of description for each photo but I can't seem to find the patience right now to sort through the language. The pictures are not in order, again I apologize. So here you go:
















(the post below was written over the last couple of months, I have updated some)

Wow...well since last I signed in lots, and I mean L.O.T.S. have happened! Kate and Mallory are now 11 months old! How in the world did that happen?! Jack is learning about five hundred new things a day...currently he is insisting on calling Daddy "Tom". I get a huge kick out of it every time. Kate is crawling everywhere and has mastered getting up and cruising around..unfortunately she has not figured out how to get down by herself, so after being very proud of herself when she stands up the excitement is short lived as she starts whining to be helped down. Mallory is now rolling both ways and is really getting better at being a supported sitter. She has had a couple of stays at Children's Mercy. The long story short version is that she is a silent aspirator (two aspiration pneumonias in one month), has delayed gastric emptying, acid reflux, and urinary reflux...fun times. She has been a super trooper through all of the tests, needle sticks and overall sickness. After her last aspiration pneumonia we stopped offering her anything oral, all feeds are via a gastric tube. Amazingly enough, she doesn't seem to mind not having the oral feeds. I find that somewhat sad but know it would be worse if she screamed for a bottle.

We decided to get a GT/Fundo which is a port in her abdomen that we feed her through and the fundoplication is a surgery that will prevent her from refluxing and throwing up..a super bonus! Her stomach is still somewhat sore and I am hoping the healing is almost complete.

Well, I think I am done with the over-the-top catch up...hope you aren't too overwhelmed with the large amount of pictures and content..I will (I WILL!) not let it get this out of hand again!