Quarantine

It am running a sick bay at the Willoughby house these days. It started a couple weeks back with me. I had some sort of respiratory type bug that took my voice and made me feel awful for a few days, then went to Michael. Then Cody comes home last Thursday and tells me that " He doesn't feel well". I would say not, he ran a 103 degree fever for two days then poof he was fine. The only thing he complained of was his stomach hurting, but he never threw up or anything along those lines.

Then yesterday morning Colin awakens me around 4am with "Mama, my stomach hurts", and low and behold he has the fever. Colin did not fair as well as his brother and by lunch time yesterday he was vomiting, I am hoping it will be gone for him in 48 hours. Today my mama is at the house with him and the baby, a little bit ago she sends me a text saying that "Kendall feels warm" and upon taking her temperature discovers that she apparently has this bug as well. Where is the Lysol?! Uugh, Cat has mid-terms beginning tomorrow. Fingers crossed it does not make its way to her....

Not Old Enough

So I have had this come up a lot lately. Colin or Cathy will get asked to do something by one of their friends, or they will go down the street to a friends house leaving Cody at home with us and he will be upset. He doesn't realize that he is still "too little" for such things. He definitely thinks himself to be older than 4 years old.

Again today Colin is going to the movies with one of his friends and Cody told me that it was not fair. I know he feels slighted, I wish I could make him understand that in just a couple of years he will be able to do those things as well. I have asked his best friends mom on a couple of occasions now to schedule a play date on the weekend, but this has not happened yet. Maybe she will get back with me soon ;)

Little Helper

Well it is getting close to that time. Kendall will be starting daycare in January. I realize how very fortunate I am! I have been blessed to be able to bring her to work with me, and for that I am so thankful. But it does not make it sting any less, it is going to be hard not to see her sweet face....

Happy Veterans Day

I would just like to say Thank You and Happy Veterans Day to all of the men and women who have served or are currently serving our country!

Sanity....

What is that? I lost that two children back.

Happy Halloween

Hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween. Our kids had lots of fun this year, as they got to dress up twice, first to attend the fall festival at their school and then again on Saturday night to go trick or treating. Pictured below we have Colin as Snake Eyes, Cody as Storm Shadow, Cathy as a pirate and Kendall as a pumpkin :)

Motherhood

Is the most complicated, challenging, rewarding thing in life. As you will so often hear "Kids don't come with instruction manuals", though wouldn't it be great if they did. But maybe that is one of those rewarding things about children. It is a learning process for the child but for you as the parent as well. All four of my children are so different, they all have commonalities, but have very distinct personalities, and what works as discipline or guidance for one does not work for another.

I was talking to my sister this past weekend and told her the scariest feeling I had while being pregnant with Kendall was "Oh my gosh, I am about to add another person to the list, another person that will need me, that I will need to make time for" "How will I find that balance, to have time for all of them as well as myself".

I am asked this question alot. "How do you do it?" "How do you work, and have four kids, and manage a home?" So many people see my life as a challenge, and at many times;) it is. But my life is also a privaledge. I have been truly blessed with what these days is considred a large family, and as a big family we all have to chip in and do our parts, even if it is something as simple as taking the laundry out of the dryer. I guess what I am trying to say is my whole family contributes to what others may see as my success.

So to my husband, and my children I just want to say thank you. I am thankful for each of you everday!!

Costume Crazies

So Halloween is right around the corner and thus I have been shopping for the kids costumes. When we first began Colin wanted to be Snake Eyes (from G.I. Joe), Cody was going to be Batman (which we already have a really cool Batman costume so it would save me $$), Cathy said "whatever, as long as it's cool", and Kendall was going to be a bumblebee (another hand me down costume ;)

So off to Party City I go, plan in mind knowing what I need to get. However let me say the options for Cathy are getting smaller and smaller, literally!! I mean some of those costumes look, well not appropriate for an eleven year old child. So I end up getting Cat a funky ladybug costume (it was really cute and age appropriate, not babyish and not "to old") I got Colin Snake Eyes, and I left feeling pretty good. Side note: the sword I got Colin was not "Snake Eye's" sword, but was a really cool ninja sword, they did not have the specific sword that "went" with the costume.

I pick up the kids thinking Halloween is complete. NOPE, no such luck. No longer did Cody want to be Batman, now that he saw Colin's Snake Eyes costume, he wanted to be Storm Shadow (his arch enemy) so they could fight each other. Cathy's ladybug wings were ripped in the package and Colin was not happy that I got the "wrong sword".

So Saturday after soccer Cathy, Cody, Kendall and I head back to Party city to exchange Cathy's and buy Cody's costume. Cathy ends up choosing a different costume, now she is going to be Robin (Batman's sidekick) which I was totally okay with until we got it home she tried it on and it was skin tight and came up to her butt.

Once again today I go back to the store to trade Cathy's costume, this time I got her a pirate that she had also liked when we were there over the weekend. Here is hoping it fits!! Costume shopping is so much easier when they are Kendall's age :)

Double Trouble

No, I am not pregnant again! But my little sister is, and I am so excited. I am going to be an Aunt again, to not one but two little munchkins. It is crazy how much love I already feel for them and they are not even here yet. Please keep her and her babies in your prayers, that they all have a safe happy & HEALTHY pregnancy :)

Homecoming

A post or so ago, I promised some new pictures of the boys, so here they are. We took the kids to their school's homecoming game a couple of weeks ago. They all had a lot of fun, complete with purple mohawks! Even Kendall got in the spirit with her purple and gold. Check them out below.

Cooling Down

Is Autumn here? It sure feels like it, the past several days have been just beautiful here. Now while we do not experience the beautiful foliage changes here as those pictured above, the weather makes up for it with highs in the low to mid 70's and lows in the 50's. Will we be lucky enough for this weather to continue? It was not a week ago that it was still in the 90's. We definitely went from winter straight into summer this year, no real springtime weather to enjoy. I hope we do not skip fall and go straight to winter. I love this time of year, it so nice to be outside.

Days Go By...

Another month has past. I cannot believe we are fast approaching the end of the year. Below are a couple of pictures I thought I would share from this past week. It is homecoming at the kids school this week, and thus they have had different activities this week for the kids to show their school spirit. Pictured below is Cat on "tacky day", I wish I could have taken a full body picture, because believe me she was tacky from head to toe :)




Below is a picture of Kendall and I that my sister took last week. I just love it so I thought I would share. I mean look at those cheeks, they are so pinchable.

And here is a picture of Michael and Cat from last week. She went on an overnight filed trip with her school, and on the second night there, the parents were invited up for dinner. We really enjoyed it. The kids served the parents (that was a nice change).

Sorry there are none of the boys. I will make sure to get updated pictures of them to share on the next post. Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Weekend Wrap Up

Well we are now what I consider "moved in" all boxes are unpacked, the house has been mopped and cleaned, and everything is in its place :) Now its on to the garage!!

On a different note Cat will be going on an overnight field trip with her school this week; So I will be down to three for a few days. I know she will have lots of fun, and I am so excited that she has so many exciting opportunities come her way.

And I know several posts ago, I wrote a little blog about "When your a mom, the phrase good morning takes on a whole new meaning!" Lets just say that yes, yes it does...

Also I don't know if she reads my blog or not, but to my sister -in- law, it was so very good to see you last Friday (although not under the best circumstances). We all miss you and Ryan and the kids more than ya'll know! It seems though with you guys and now my cousin moving there that New York is the place to be :)

Sleep

I think it is so funny how when we are little, we fight sleep with all the energy we have. We want to stay awake so badly so as not to miss out on what is going on around us. Then when we grow up and have little ones of our own it is one of the things we look forward to the most, it is illusive. Above is a picture of my beautiful baby girl trying oh so hard to stay awake while in her car seat...

Soap Box

I am gonna get up on my soap box and rant for a minute. Last night AGAIN, our daughter brought up having a cell phone to us. We explained as we have many times before that she is NOT getting a cell phone at 11 years old. There is no need for one. This time she says, "Well what if I were in trouble?". To which we said Cathy where would you be at your age that an adult; either family or your friends parents would not be with you (no reply). We have said to her numerous times and we reiterated again last night, there is no need for an 11 year old child to have a cell phone. When she turns sixteen (maybe fifteen) and begins driving and needs a phone so that in an emergency such as car trouble she can get in touch with us then and only then will we discuss getting a phone, not to sit and text on all day long but to call and let us know where she is and when she will be home, and if she needs our help.

And the thing that really gets me going, my child does not even use the home phone!!!I can count on one hand the number of times she has called a girlfriend. Ugh! And I know it doesn't help that "everybody" has one. But you know what just because "everybody" else does something does not mean you have to. (Do I sound like MY parents right now, yes I do...) And I don't care what Susie Q's Mama lets her do or let's her have! I am not Susie Q's Mama.

Say What

Okay, I had a dentist appointment today. I went in knowing that I had to have a little filling done that I had put off while I was pregnant with Kendall. In the mean time I tell my hygienist about this little "puss pocket" (sorry to gross you out) that has been forming and then going away above my tooth that I had a root canal on.... So long story short I get the wonderful news that it has to be redone and it must be infected. WHAT, WHAT do you mean redone???? Another root canal on the tooth from hell the tooth that left me bent over in tears. Now I have been through a lot of painful things in my life, from my lungs collapsing and having chest tubes inserted, to my lung surgery, to giving birth to four children, but that tooth, that root canal was the most painful thing I have EVER experienced in my life!!! I am not a happy camper.

Singers

This morning as we are on the way to school, a song comes on the radio and the following conversation ensued, I thought it was funny so thought I would share...

Cody- "Mama, is that a boy singing"

Me- "No babe, that is a girl"

Cody- "No it not, that is a boy, it is Michael Jackson, he is a boy but he sounds like a girl"

Me- "Oh, okay"

Cody- "But I do not know what he looks like"

Happenings....

So here is a breakdown on what's happening with the Willoughby's;

Cathy- So far so good. She is liking sixth grade and soccer has been a lot easier since we now only live 10 min from the practice fields (i.e. when she has a lot of homework on practice/game nights).

Colin- Had a birthday. That's right he is now seven years old... He had some friends from school over this weekend and they had a blast in the backyard playing. the water balloons were a big hit!

Cody (a.k.a. Stubborn Butt)- Is also doing well. He seems to really enjoy being at the same school with Colin and Cat. Of course he pretty much always is doing whatever Colin is. The boys are each others shadows, where you find one you find the other.

Kendall- Is four moths old, and at her checkup last Friday is now weighing in at 13pds 13ounces. She will be catching Colin soon :) Her appointment went well and everything checked out good. She rolled over for the first time today, which was really cool, and I was the only one that got to see her. I am sure when I tell her siblings about it they will be trying to get her to do it again when we get home.

Michael- Plays lots and lots of tennis. It is his new favorite sport by far. He is glad the move is over I know, and I also know he will be glad when I have no more pictures to hang and stop asking him to do it (right in the middle of the U.S. Open, and football!). But as I always say, he is the half that makes me whole.

Me- I am feeling really good. The hives are gone (as is my stress over moving) which is what I think was causing them. Kendall is letting me sleep for longer periods at night (I usually get a 5 hour straight span). And we are staying busy at work, which is a good thing.

Well that is all for now. I am sure there will be more later. I will have to post some pictures of our new place once we get all squared away...

It's Over....

The move that is, we did it and no I don't ever want to do it again! I do want to say thank you to my daddy, and father in-law Tom as well as my sister and new brother in-law Steve. We also could not have accomplished what we did this weekend without the help of my grandmother, she watched Kendall for us, and for those of you that have or have had an infant you know what a BIG help that was. And I especially want to say thank you to my mother for ALL of her help throughout this process. As I am typing this she is at my house unpacking boxes, her help has been priceless and I am so thankful.

Captions....

Dresses are SO yummy!

Hey you.....

What you looking at?

Packing...

So this weekend we will be moving. As you can imagine moving a family of six and a dog is quite an undertaking. On top of moving we are downsizing, so while packing I am trying to figure out what I can use at the new house and what I want to get rid of, as well as what I cannot not use but don't necessarily want to get rid of (so it will end up in the attic). I will be so glad when it is over and we are settled. Although like I told Michael, the packing isn't the hard part....it is the unpacking and trying to figure out where everything is going to go that is the real chore.

Bug Country

So once again we are dealing with the plight of bug bite allergies. Sunday morning Cody was outside playing (without bug spray on, a no no on our part) and he got two mosquito bites on his left wrist. It immediately began swelling and I began giving him Benedryl, by yesterday morning the swelling had moved into his hand and fingers, I continued with the Benedryl and the Motrin for the swelling and pain. By three o'clock this morning (when he woke me up crying from it hurting) he had a club hand and the swelling had traveled up to his elbow. So now my poor baby is swollen fingertip to elbow and the whole area is feverish. So I called his pediatrician first thing this morning and we are going to see him after lunch. I am sure Cody will end up getting a shot (oh joy), but am hoping once we leave the doctors he will be feeling some relief. I have never seen a child react to insect bites the way he does, I am hoping it is an allergy he will "outgrow" and will not have to battle his whole life, especially living in "bug country" also known as south Georgia....

Growing Pains

This past Monday night I had a parent orientation meeting for upcoming 6th grade students at Cathy's school. We all assembled in the sanctuary where we met with administrators and teachers and got an overview of what to expect in the upcoming year. After which Cathy and I went to the six grade hall and walked her schedule and met her teachers so she would be familiar before school began. As I sat there and listened I had this overwhelming feeling of sadness. It hit me like a brick at once that my "baby" was no longer a "baby", and in fact is a young lady. I sat there thinking oh my gosh, six more years, I only have six more years and my little girl will not be mine any longer. I am excited to start this new era in her life, the transition period where she will go from little girl to young woman. I know there will be many new things to teach and share with her over the next several years. I just wish the years would not go as quickly as the last 11 have. I love my daughter so very much and am so proud that she is mine!

Chaos

You guessed it today was the first day of school. It was total chaos at my house this morning, as you can imagine (or at least it felt that way to me). So I get it in the car everyone is loaded and has their seat belt on and all book bags and lunchboxes are accounted for. I am backing out the driveway and the time on the clock is 7:18 (school takes in at 8:15), we have one hour to get to school. I am feeling a false sense of relief, "I did it, we are going to be on time". WRONG!!! we hit major traffic, I mean major, it took us 1hr and 10 min to travel from our house to the kids school. It should have taken us 45. And all the while I have Cathy and Colin freaking out in the back "Mom, we are going to be late" "Hurry, hurry, please change to green light".

So needless to say, the kids were late on their first day back to school. I hope they will not be to mad at me, I did everything in my power to get them there on time.....The universe was against me this morning. Oh and thanks to all the chaos and me stressing my hives were in full effect as you can see on my cheek in the picture with Kendall...lovely. But I do think the pictures of them turned out cute, I especially love Cody's pose :)

Itchy Mess

So this past weekend has to be one of my most miserable in recent history. I woke up last Friday morning with what I thought was a cluster of bug bites on my right forearm and elbow. As the day progressed I started getting the same raised areas in other places at which point I realized it was not bug bites, but the hives. By Saturday morning it had spread and I was now getting them all over my hands and face, by late Saturday night my face was so bad that I could see my eyelids swollen in front of my eyes. I had been taking Benedryl but it was obviously not helping, and they were so painful and itchy. The ones on the inside of my palms would sting anytime I would touch something. So when I woke up Sunday morning and they were still present off to the ER I went. The doctor there gave me a shot of steroids and sent me home with more medicine to take. He told me to continue with the Benedryl as well and that if they were not improving within the next 2 to 3 days that I would need to go an an allergist to see if they could figure out what was triggering them. They are better today, much better, but definitely still present....ugh, I will be sooo glad when they are gone completely.

How's your day going

Have you ever been asked this question... I know you have, and what's the usual response? "It's fine" or "It's going good", well this past Wednesday if you had asked me that would not have been my response. My response would have been "It's only 8:00am, and already I have been s*** on" har har!

You see I went in my room to get Kendall changed and ready to go. So i lay her down on my bed and sit down with her to start the process. Now keep in mind I am already dressed and ready for work myself. She had a poopy diaper and I believed her to be through, however as I lifted her little behind to move the diaper and wipe her she shoots poop ALL over me and ALL over the bed. My oldest was in the room with me and got a big kick out of it :)

Summer's End

So here we are the end of July and only two more weeks until the kids start back to school. Cat will be in sixth grade, Colin in second, and my little Cody will be in Pre-K. I cant believe how fast the summer has past (and by summer I strictly mean summer vacation) as it is still over 100 degrees here daily :) And so with school returning comes a whole list of things to get done from school supplies to haircuts to new uniforms. And not only is school beginning but we got a call from Cat's soccer coach yesterday reminding us she needs to register for the upcoming season as they will begin practice in September, and that is when the running around like a chicken with my head cut off will really begin :)

Birds and Bees...

Last night I had a lesson in the "Birds and the Bees" from our eldest daughter. Michael and Cathy were sitting next to each other on the sofa, when I went over and started kissing Michael. Cat immediately says "Ugh, Mama, stop making out with Daddy, you don't need to get pregnant again and if you make out with him you are gonna get pregnant". I looked at her and said "You are right baby, if you make out with a boy you will get pregnant, so don't make out with boys". To which she says "I know". Then Michael added "In fact if you look at a boy you will get pregnant, so don't even look at them". To which Cathy replied "I know, that's why mama keeps getting pregnant"!!!

Later this week....

So as I am typing this I can not hardly beleive it, my baby is turning four this week (yes, Cody is "my baby" and Kendall is "his baby"). I know I say this about all of them but it really seems like yesterday that we were bringing him home from the hospital. Has it really been FOUR years, is he really already starting pre-k this fall? To Cody Happy Birthday baby, we love you!!!

Burping Lessons

The other morning I was sitting in the rocking chair, I had just finished feeding Kendall and had her on my shoulder burping her. Cody came over to me and the following conversation ensued:

Cody - Mama what you doing to her
Me - I am burping her baby
Cody - Dat is not how you burp her, you are supposed to squeeze her neck
Me - No your not Cody that would hurt Kendall
Cody - No, you squeeze it softly
Me - No you don't Cody, I better not catch anyone squeezing her neck that would hurt Kendall

The next day I had just finished feeding Kendal and was in the process of burping her again, this time I had her sitting up on my lap and I was supporting her head with my hand while rubbing her back. Cody came over to me and said "See Mama you is squeezing her neck softly" :)

Going's On

Felt like it was time to do a quick update on us since I had a moment and Kendall is asleep ;)

Colin: he just finished up golf camp last week and had a really good time, we all went out to the course last Friday evening to watch him compete in a little challenge. It was nice out on the course. All the kids liked riding in the golf carts.

Cody: is enjoying being home and not having to get up early everyday (that will change next week as I have to go back to work) the picture above is from his spring program at school, he was a firefly. I did not get to go as Kendall was a little too young to be around so many people, but Michael said it was really cute.

Cathy: is doing good as well, she went to a softball camp last week and had a lot of fun there. She is a really good ball player, she played when she was younger but then decided the past couple of seasons that she liked soccer better (they are at the same time of year), I am hoping that the camp refueled her love of softball and she will try out next year. She is growing so fast I cannot believe she will be in middle school next year. The picture above is from her fifth grade graduation.

Kendall: is still crying, although it is settling down some. We are now on a formula that I think is working better and the Zantac seems to be helping as well. She is growing like a weed. I tried to take a couple of pictures of her last week which she was not to happy about as you will see.

Feeling Sexy

Mama, what is that smell?
Are you wearing a new perfume?
Why yes dear, it is called spit up, do you like??

Kristen, how many days are you going to wear that shirt?
Until it rots and falls off of me, you actually think I have time to shower and change clothes??

Gift Ideas

If any of you are looking for a gift idea for me, I have two that will come in very handy; 1) a referee shirt 2) a set of ear plugs. Because all I have done the past two days is break up fights between my two boys (hence the ref shirt) and listen to my baby cry inconsolably. Kendall has seemed to have a sensitive stomach since birth. I have discussed this with her doctor and decided to try a more sensitive formula. I just went and bought today, so we are in our first 24 hours of using it. Here is keeping my fingers crossed that it helps and she feels better. As for the boys I told them both today that if the fighting between the two of them did not stop they would be going to summer camp for the rest of mama's maternity leave. (I don't think they really believed me though, I think they know I am a softy) I guess they are just boys being boys though (at least that is what everyone says). As for Cathy, well she is awesome and a really BIG help to her mama.

I Did It!

Kendall was born on Monday May 3rd, weighing 7pds 4ounces, and measuring 18 inches. I have been super busy and super tired as you can imagine. Right now I am running on less than 3 hours sleep. But we are both doing good. I am so so very blessed. I will update again when I have a chance :)

Party Time

It is official, today is my last day off work until after Kendall is born. Woot, Woot! No really I do miss it while I am gone, I know the last two times I was on maternity leave I felt so "out of the loop" when I returned. However this time I have a fancy smancy blackberry and can keep up with my work e-mails (in all my spare time) :)

May Day

This weekend is the annual Spring Fling at the kids school. Every year they have performances and then a day filled with games, and water rides, food, and fun. While I have many more years of attending this event, I am really hoping that Kendall will wait to make her appearance until after this years carnival. This will be Cathy's last year as it is only for Elementary students. The fifth grade will be dancing the May pole, and I really want to see her in person. Keep you fingers crossed for me :)

Soon

So all I am hearing the past couple of days is "when's that baby coming?" I swear yesterday if I would have heard it one more time I just might have pulled my hair out. I know everyone that asks really means well, its just I can't make her come any faster, I know I am full term and I know my babies tend to come before their due dates (Cody-17days early, Colin- 11days early, Cathy- 9days early) I wish I had a crystal ball and knew for sure when she would make her appearance. One thing I am sure of is it will be SOON, within the next 2 weeks I will be holding my new baby girl in my arms, and that I am looking forward to.

Wedding Weekend

So this past Friday my little sister got married. It was a beautiful wedding and short (which was nice considering how swollen my feet were). They had their reception at a local restaraunt overlooking the river, it was so nice the food, the dancing (my little ones tore up the dance floor) and the fellowship. I wish for them a long happy life together. Below are a couple of pictures.

First Communion

Last night was Maundy Thursday service and Cathy's First Communion. She looked so beautiful, I cannot believe how fast she is growing up and that this time is already here. We are so proud of you Cathy and love you so very very much. Below are a few pictures from last night. On a side note she did not care much for the wine, she told us it was nasty and burnt her throat.

Gifts Galore

This past weekend, I was honored by my mother and sister with a baby shower for Kendall. I received so many much needed items, and beautiful dresses to boot. I really had a great time and am so thankful to them for their hard work. There was lots of good food, games and fellowship. I would also like to say a thank you to all who attended for your generosity and for sharing in this special occasion with my family. I have added a couple of pictures from the day. As you can see when it was time to open presents the boys joined the festivities, I even had Indiana Jones help me open one of her gifts :)