Random Thoughts and Photos

It turns out I can live and go out in public without showering every day.

Three young boys can make an incredible mess with spagehti (sorry, no photo).

Our three boys love feet pajamas! Luckily, Sam doesn't know the one he is wearing is a bit "girly," but I know soon enough he will. All three boys are actually quite excited about and proud of their clothes; even Owen points to his wardrobe when he's on the changing table and it's time for a new outfit. Hats and gloves were a hit at first, then they realized they don't enjoy wearing them long term. I am sure once the cold weather hits they will be more appreciated.

All of the boys are doing fantastic! Sam and Charlie are going to preschool four mornings a week now and talking up a storm. They are learning new words everyday and using some short phrases. Owen is also talking more, some English words , some Marathi, some baby babble. He is also moving around more, crawling faster and now also on all four; Owen is also pulling himself up on things and doing stairs with some assistance. The bone doctor dismissed him with one last good x-ray, he'll have physical therapy beginning on Monday (already had assessment visit). Of course we'd like to see him walking, and all indications are he should be in no time.

I am going back to work soon (around Thanksgiving) and quite frankly really not looking forward to it. Nothing personal work friends or students, it's just that I finally feel like I'm getting the hang of this parenting thing (most days) and wouldn't mind doing it a bit longer.

The kids and pets are beginning to "bond." The cats are coming around, and Henry provides a Zamboni-like under the table clean up after every meal. We also take walks outside together, which is good for everyone.

Sorry I haven't been blogging much lately - the reality of feeding, clothing, cleaning and laundering this many messy people is setting in.

New Pics

Okay, I'm getting lazy, it's been a while since I've sent out new photos. Eric and I have both been very sick - weird flu- very high fevers & night sweats/chills. We're better now, luckily none of the boys got it.

All is well in the house of boys (and one mom). I seem to have lost the battle of the toilet seat, Eric promises me eventually I'll get my own bathroom, ah, to dream. Highlights lately:

I took the boys to the middle school where I work and saw lots of good friends and many very interested students. The boys did very well and did not seem to notice they were the center of attention - the elementary school playground and library carpet were far too cool. We all went swimming last weekend - for Owen the first time. They all love it - and splash each other and try to kick and swim. We're signing the older boys up for swimming lessons that begin in November. They've talked about it several times since so I guess we'll be going back. Preschool went to four mornings a week and Sam and Charlie are loving it. I've been taking Owen to a little kid library groups with reading, singing, and playing - he's doing pretty well with the other kids - he does share well. Everyone's growing, Owen started PT and is pulling himself up more on furniture and us. He is definitely interested in everything his brothers are doing (sometimes they play with him, other times they just steal his toys) but occasionally he'll skulk off into one of the bedrooms and touch their things and play on their bed when no one is paying attention. The new thing with sleeping is sometimes one or both of the older boys comes out into the living room during the night and we find them sleeping on the couch. Not really sure what to do there - we're happy they're not waking us or coming into our room - plus, they're sleeping. On the other hand it would be nice to have them in their bedroom.

Okay, in these Sam is the one sitting in the chair, Owen is in the sleeper, and the close-up is Charlie.

Fall Fun!

Sorry it's been so long since my last post! We have been busy enjoying autumn in New England and experiencing more firsts such as: first hair cut given by Mommy (who bought a $20 hair clipper), first picnic, first time wearing overalls (older boys, this is also the haircut photo), first time apple picking, first Common Ground Fair, and first dentist appointments (older boys). Things are going very well and everyone is settling into a routine. Daddy is back to work, mostly, and Sam & Charlie's preschool moved to four mornings a week as of this week. The teachers say they are doing very well - sharing with others, sitting still for activities (more), helping, playing indepedently on the playground, and going to the bathroom themselves (most times). If I could count how many poopy butts I've wiped these past six weeks - well - no one really wants to hear about that. Owen is doing amazing - crawling faster and stronger every day. He is pulling himself up onto his little chair now and trying to pull up on other things. He has a physical therapy evaluation next week - we are still waiting for our "third" opinion on his bones - in the meantime he's out-eating both of his brothers and becoming Mr. Personality. All of the boys are hysterically funny (sometimes for good, sometimes evil), but it turns out Owen is as much of a player as his older siblings! Okay, one more poop story. Just imagine, you take three orphans apple picking, show them how to pick apples, encourage them to eat the apples, and let them wander! This was a preschool field trip last Friday and I think the photos speak volumes - just remember - what goes in must come out!

P.S. I'm on the wrong computer - will add the picnic photos next time.

One Month Anniversary

Exactly one month ago today (8/21/08) we picked up our three wonderful boys in Pune, India and we began our lives together! The boys have brought us so much joy, and we sure do hope they are happy too. People have told us how lucky the boys are to have us, however, we feel like the lucky ones! Every day brings a new adventure, challenge, and fantastic surprise with each of them, I so wish I had time to document them all. First, the good news, we are all sleeping much, much better. We're hoping tonight will be #3 in a row where things are quiet and peaceful. This will be the first night we try sleeping in our own bedroom - at least both of us :). Owen has had no troubles with sleeping, and is also out-eating his older brothers these days. He continues to be active and alert and today got his first ride (self-propelled) on a riding toy. He tried but couldn't get up on it himself, but once we hoisted him up he loved it and scooted all around, in forward and reverse. We also played "laundry basket" for the first time today, enjoyed by all except Mommy who ended up running laps of the big room pulling 1-3 boys at a time!

Other tidbits of information:

Sam threw up in the "Pukon" yesterday just after eating his first orange-creamsicle soft-serve, it smelled lovely!

The getting to know the pets thing has been interesting - the older boys aren't doing as well as Owen with either our dog Henry or the 2 cats. Owen tries to call all animals to him (he gestures for them with his hand) but once they arrive he can't actually bring himself to pet them (most times); Sam & Charlie both taunt the pets (especially Henry) and are terrified when he actually gets near them. Henry really could care less, but he has barked and growled a couple of times so we aren't really at ease with it all yet.

Both Charlie and Sam can count to 10 now and sing the ABC song. They are beginning to enjoy following along in books and can turn the pages and like counting things and looking for colors they know. Owen is beginning to vocalize a lot more day to day, sometimes we think he is saying mum or aai for me and da for Eric - other times-not so sure. He says "hi" to everyone and sometimes everything and waves, which is adorable, but not necessarily what we hope he'll learn toward strangers. Although the words aren't there yet, Owen definitely makes his needs and wishes known clearly with gestures, facial expressions, and actually touching our faces to get our attention and pointing to what he is trying to explain. He gives little sermons at mealtime and his brothers happily mimic him and copy his every noise.

Bathroom habits are mostly good. We have had very few accidents and we seemed to have figured out when the older boys are telling the truth and when they are lying about having to go in order to play in the "zone:" toilet paper, flushing, washing hands, turning the lights/fan on and off and sneaking around on the forbidden shelf (containing towels, soap, toothpaste, and extra t.p. ). Owen is not ready for toilet-training yet, but sometimes lets us know he needs changing and has peed on me a couple of times (laughed both times!).

I guess that's all for now. Thanks for all the great comments and private e-mails! Please don't take it personally if I don't e-mail back or make comments myself, I am still amazed when I find the time to blog! Please, keep them coming - I'll eventually be in touch.

The Cast is Off!

Yeah! The cast is off! Owen was not happy while they were grinding through it with a tool Eric wants for his jobsite, but he sure is happy to have it gone. The doc said the x-ray looks good, he's free to move about freely and is crawling two ways (on his knees and scootching on his bottom. He tried to pull himself to a stand but didn't quite get there. As far as we know he has never walked but the doctor said he should be in no time, next check-up, one month. To celebrate we had his first bath in the U.S. which he loved! I also reposted a photo of the older boys first shower from a couple of weeks ago, no "parts showing this time. The sleeping situation is slightly better, more on that in a day or two. This couch pose of the sleeping beauties was taken one afternoon while Eric was "watching" the boys while I caught up on chores downstairs. I heard feet shuffling (suppose to be napping) and came up to find Owen in his crib , a sleeping Daddy and Charlie and Sam wide awake watching TV (he know how to turn it on already). The last thought of the day - gates - you can never have too many. We live in a land of gates now, which will be newly tested now that #3 is on the move. I'll do a count tomorrow and report back. Sweet dreams - 11 pm and still no waking...

Ah, the good old days...

Ah, the good old days...when we all lived in a hotel, ordered room service and slept through the night. Just kidding except for the sleeping through the night part. While at the beginning everyone was sleeping well, now the older boys are having a terrible time sleeping through the night without waking several times. We are trying to get them to stay in their own room, or more specifically out of our bed because sleep is lost that way too. Any thoughts out there?

Daddy's tacos and Pat's Pizza

Daddy's chicken tacos and Pat's Pizza were the food hits of this week; also, applesauce, raisin bran cereal, "fruit" snacks (some have more fruit than others), ice cream and Aunt Jo's beef vegetable (from her garden) soup. Also, we are buying Pediasure in bulk these days as all the boys (but especially Owen) need it daily. We had a follow-up pediatrician visit, this time no shots or blood drawn (yeah!); everything is looking good so far - no major health issues. All of the boys are a bit anemic, one of them has a treatable "bacteria" that causes the runs and upset tummy, and multiple parties are debating what, if any, special diet Owen should be on (he may be Vitamin D deficient, among other things) - in the meantime we're just trying to get as much good food as we can into all three boys to help them grow! They are tiny! In part due to genetics, but a lack of good, plentiful food over time no doubt contributed as well. If they show up on U.S. growth charts at all it's in the 1-2 percentile. On the Indian growth charts they are normal to small. Here are their current stats:

Sam - 37.7 inches tall, 27.4 pounds
Charlie - 36.8 inches tall, 24.8 pounds
Owen - 30.9 inches tall, we don't know his weight for sure since we haven't been able to weigh him without a cast, we estimate 16 -19 pounds

The older boys, who are four, are wearing sizes 18 month-2T pants and 2T-3T shirts.
Owen, who is 2, wears 9 month-2T clothes, depending on the brand; we haven't really been able to dress him normally though, because of the spica cast, which the orthapedic said will come off next Thursday (it's healing very well and fast)!

Eric rigged up a way for Owen to eat at his high chair again (a Macgiver set-up of textbooks, towels and string); we use a Gore-Tex jacket to protect the cast from spills and he mostly self feeds and smears food like a typical 2 year old. The older boys are still learning to use utensils - mealtimes are always interesting - they are fascinated with napkins and prefer mixing all food groups, beverages, condiments, etc. together.

Some new words/phrases of the week for the older boys (Owen is starting to mimic a lot but no clear words yet, at least none in English):
thank you, more please, come here, Henry, Pretty Kitty, banana, chicken, juice, good boy, teddy bear, truck, go for a walk/ride, sit down, take off... pants/shirt/socks/"boots" (sneakers), no, sorry, me, me, me (same word in Marathi!). I'm sure there are more but my brain is checking out now - sleep has been a challenge - both older boys are still waking 1-3 times during the night, Owen only needs checking in once a night (to turn him/cast), but naturally it rarely coincides with the others waking! So, sweet dreams -

FYI - Charlie has green stripes, Sam's are orange