A rambling post. . . ..oh, and some PICTURES!!!

Its been a long time since I've just rambled on and on here. Mostly due to the fact of my computer being down, but still. I've missed it!!! Its seems that there has been so much that has gone on with my family in the last few months. The kids all seem to have grown older, wiser, and know how to push more buttons on mommy's nerves. The house has taken what feels like strides forward in its progress, well, in comparison to looking at it week by week and thinking NOTHING is happening that is!! I don't know. Things just feel DIFFERENT!!! I think I'll update on the kids first.

Yesterday was a big day for my little man Gabriel. We found out at conference time just before the holidays, that Gabe needed glasses. Well, with the holidays we didn't have the chance to get him an appointment. We did get him in last week however. He is at 20/30 vision out of his right eye, and 20/60 vision out of his left eye. Oddly enough just backwards of what Dallas's vision is. (though Dallas's 20/60 will never improve because of the new lense that is in there) The doctor was pretty concerned about that. She said we'd give glasses a go for 4 weeks. The prescription would be at half of what its SUPPOSED to be (mostly because if she gave him the whole thing at once it would be too much and he wouldn't want to wear them) and in that 4 weeks she hoped that it would change the 20/60. If not, we're looking at having to patch with him as well. Fun. I HATED patching with Dallas. And I don't know that Gabe would be as tolerant of it. Dallas is one who can laugh at himself if someone is laughing. He takes it in stride. Gabe is MUCH more sensitive, and would take it all personally. SO we'll see. But he just got his glasses in last night. He looks pretty good in them. But MAN! This kid was VERY hard to find glasses for. Dallas can put on any shape, and it looks ok. Gabe's face wasn't so kind on us. I don't know what it was but we had to search and search for ones that "fit" him. He's pretty happy with what we came out with though. Here he is last night just after getting home from picking them up! Oh, and might I add, dragging 4 kids out into -15F weather to go get glasses isn't my idea of fun?? Yeah, add in the -25 windchill that was there yesterday and it made it royally PAINFUL!!!

Gabriel, with his brand new glasses.

Then, after mommy was done taking some pictures of his new look, the VERY first thing he did was run for a book. I was so happy to see him sitting there. You would have sworn he was seeing the world through a brand new pair of eyes!!! He has been having so much trouble seeing things, and his eyes have been working so hard that reading has NOT been a favorite for him. But now, now that he can see, he's running for books! It was AWESOME, and truly a heart warming site for this mommy!!!!!

Gabe reading, and actually SEEING what he's reading!!!

Things with Dallas are going well. He continues to amaze me each day with just how advanced he is in school. He's reading at a 6th grade level, though I have a feeling that he's beyond that now since that was at conference time . He reads anything and everything he can get his hands on. He too was much like Gabe, but with his glasses he's really taken off. I hope the same thing for Gabe. But anyway. He's also working on MULTIPLICATION!! Can you believe that? His class won't work on them at all this year, that's something they learn in 3rd grade. But he gets taken out of class for a "math group" a few times a week so that they can allow him to continue on at his own pace! He just seems so grown, so mature. Well, I can say that, but then in the next second he's off doing something silly, and something he knows he's not supposed to do, just like all little boys do!!!!

My other handsome man in glasses, Dallas

Ahhhh, now we're at Kaleb and Kendyl. These two are truly a test of my patients lately. I love and adore the fact that I have twins, don't get me wrong. But two in the same stage is really a challenge for me. I don't know how the families with higher order multiples do it!!! These little stinkers know how to work together, as if they have this unspoken connection/communication and they push every last button of my nerves that they can find. Which wouldn't be bad on occasion. But this is all day every day. And you know, I knew this day was coming! I really did! People used to tell me all the time when they were little (like under 6 months old little) that it would get easier as they got older. And I just laughed. Because having had Dallas and Gabe only 14 months apart I'd had a preview in some ways, of what was to come! I just have to say that I WAS RIGHT!!! I've been heard saying MANY times in the last month or two that I would take brand new just home from the hospital baby twins over the monsters that have been living in my house right now! I don't fully mean it of course, but man! These two are gibing me a run for my money!! I know a lot of their behaviors stem from all the uncertainty in our lives right now, with the two houses thing, and daddy being gone a lot, the winter deep freeze we're in and not being able to get out to get their energy out, etc. They sure can be sweet, and cute, and are both the biggest little love bugs ever. But if they want to get under your skin they know just how to do it, and how to do it in a quick hurry!!!!

I took this picture of them last night. I just love it. I think it really
shows their personality! They would do ANYTHING for each other.

This is the "ok mom, we're so done taking pictures" pose! Gotta love it!

Mr. Kaleb. My little spitfire, and my little clown! He'll do anything for a laugh
from anyone, but the second he feels he's been wronged MAN does he let you
know it! The tears start, the fit is thrown, and he usually winds up in time out!!!

And then we have Kendyl! She is the princess of the house and she isn't afraid to
let the boys know it!! We've had to start a rule that the boys aren't allowed to touch her things.
She's been in tears many a times in the last few weeks because the boys have broken something of hers. Girl toys are SO much more delicate than little boys toys. She also knows how to whip all these little boys into shape! Each and ever boy in this house (her daddy included!!) are wrapped around her little finger! And she KNOWS it!!!! She's sweet as can be most of the time. But cross her, and watch the yelling begin!!!!

Just one last one of the twins snuggling!!!! They're so darn cute!!!


The house. . .well, the plumbing has been completed to the point of passing inspection. The only time the guy has to come back now is for the final inspection after all the fixtures have been set. So that's nice. They've moved on to electrical. Its a big job, but they have a good start on it and hopefully soon we'll be ready to get that inspected and be able to move onto things like sheet rock, and getting the kitchen and bathroom put back together. The house is still mostly torn apart, and still mostly unlivable. We're hoping to be in there by the first week in April at the latest. SO there IS an end in site. I'll put some pictures up of that later.

Oh! And any day now I could be having a new niece or nephew! My sister in law Sara is due on the 25th, but is hoping for any second now!!!! I can't wait! A new little baby to snuggle and love!! WOO HOO!!!

Ahhhh, so nice to be back!!