Life in the rear view mirror...

Just as I had imagined finding time to sit and write my blog is next to impossible. Even to get past the first sentence I have had to stop twice to check on a fussy baby. :) This is a big week for us as I return to work for the first time in EIGHT MONTHS! Yes, I said EIGHT MONTHS!!! I have been doing a lot of reflecting the past few days, thinking back to when this all began and how far we have come. The end of December marked a huge change in, not only my lifestyle, but also the lifestyle of my husband and son. I became very quickly bound to my bed and we were nervous, excited, and anxious about what our future held for our three unborn babies. Now, I sit here and write my blog in living room with three four month olds. Tripp returned to school today for the first time since he was out for summer break and I return to work on Wednesday. So much has changed and yet it is though nothing has changed because we can not imagine our lives without them or what our lives even were before their existence. Returning to work I think will be doubly hard given the fact that my life was so very consumed with the pregnancy and unknown of what was to come with such high risks. Now I have had my precious, healthy, babies with me for four whole months and they, along with their brother, are an all consuming job. :) I am wondering if I will be bored at work because I just can't imagine work being as chaotic and busy as what I deal with at home. There aren't many things in life that are as chaotic and busy as taking care of three babies and a four year old. Tripp's summer was not as fun as I would have liked it to have been and I think returning to school was easy for him this morning as he will get more playtime and "fun" things to do besides being at home with his brothers and sister all day. Getting out to do anything is a big deal and our active lifestyle has taken a back seat this summer as we have adjusted to a new way of living. There were no tears when being dropped off this morning and that definitely makes getting back into a routine easier for us. Hoping that things will calm down around here and we will be able to get out more easily as the babies get older. Caroline, Gabe, and Ethan will be officially four months old on August 18th. They are doing great and definitely have their own personalities. Ethan, who is nick named "Tubby-Tubby," LOVES to eat and sleep. He is a chunk and absolutely precious. When he gets upset his cry just sounds pitiful and breaks your heart. He is mostly a happy baby and smiles with his many chins. :))) Love kissing those chubby cheeks. Caroline is definitely our princess. She has found her voice and talks and talks. As a girl, she already has a lot to say. I think she melts everyone's heart with her big, sweetheart eyes and precious smile. She will just put her head in just the right spot on your chest and snuggle. She is definitely a love bug. Gabe is our peanut and still the smallest of the three. He is growing, but hasn't quite caught up with his brother and sister. He fights with his reflux which makes him fussier than the other two at times. His cry, unlike Ethan, is not pitiful. Gabe just gets mad and has a temper that we have all heard and seen. :) He loves to smile and you can't help but laugh and smile back. He has very kissable chubby cheeks too. They are all rolling over from their tummy to their back. They can sit in their bumbo seat and are working on head control. We go back to the doctor on the 30th for their fourth month check up and I can't wait to see how much they have grown in two months. We have a new addition to the family now and her name is Claudia. We are all in love with her, babies included. She is an answered prayer and I already know I would be lost without her. She officially started working a couple of weeks ago and has a great bond with the babies who smile when they see her now. She gets with them on the floor and makes sure they are being active and talks and sings with them. It is such a relief to have her here for when I return to work. I know the babies will be in good hands and I don't think you can ask for better than that. Three babies is a tall order and it takes the right person for the job and I am thankful we found "that" person. Michael has been working for the past month with coaching and working in his room. This year will definitely be challenging as far as his schedule goes. Between practices, games, and preparing for his classes I know we won't be seeing much of him, but he is already enjoying what he is doing and we are so thankful for his opportunity. If there is one thing I can say about us it is that we are very family oriented so I don't worry about us figuring out time with us and the kids. :) God has blessed us in so many ways and I hope that His light will shine through us no matter what it is we are doing and no matter how busy we become. I never want to take for granted, or let life pass by, without stopping daily to remember how blessed I am. Please keep us in your prayers as we embark on our life back to work and Tripp to school, and that it will be an easy transition for us all. :) It is crazy to look at life in the rear view mirror and see where we have been and where we are now. Looking forward to things to come.