Creativity Required

The fourth one broke the mold. Our oldest three kiddos have made life so much more pleasurable by being similar in regards to their desire to be at the dentist and actually enjoy going. The fourth one, not so much. Here's how this works.....five Linos pull up to the dentist office in our minivan stocked with a plethora of kid movies and a DVD player. I run in to get paperwork and make payments and then we get the selected movie going in the van. One by one, the oldest three take turns going into the office by themselves and have their teeth counted, cleaned, x-rayed and routinely examined. The 8, 6, and 4 year olds climb right up into the chair, don fancy shades and open wide. I sit in the van with the other three waiting for the dear hygienist to come out and give me the 'all-clear, see you in 6 months' talk. It's fabulous. We love our dentist. He has been working on Lino teeth since the 1980s.

The only problem arises when the last little Lino has to go inside the office....for any reason. The restroom, to check on paperwork, to see what's happening with sister. String Bean freaks out just upon entering the building. I know what the problem is....sound. She is very sensitive to sounds. Fans in restrooms, trucks starting up, toilets flushing, air conditioners turning on, hissing pots and pans on the stove. Many things that don't faze a lot of people. So, all of the unusual sounds in a dentist office just about send her over the edge. I have yet to even get her in an exam chair - in my lap. She just covers her ears and cries.

The 'I have four kids and don't have time for this' side of me says just make her sit and get it done. The 'nurturing, help me help her' side of me says I need some creative mommies to help me find a solution to get her in that chair willingly. So, if you have any ideas that can help me get my String Bean into that chair, please share. Has anyone tried special headphones?

Only Three Times

only two were happy to be here

I have recently come to the conclusion that I will say or think "we get to do this three times" more times that I can count in my lifetime. Having the three little girls is just a big thrill. I love it. It is a bit petrifying a times, but absolutely fabulous. Girly Girl is showing us the ropes and Samoosa is not far behind her. Right now, they are age 6, 4 and 2. With each new dramatic moment or great memory I remind myself we have three amazing girls that we get to do life with. I wouldn't trade them for anything! I love these three.

All About the Pose

Just had to post these two cuties.........they have a plan when ever the camera comes out. They learned it from their big sister. It was t-shirt and pizza day at school.

9-8-11

The Littles Are Getting Big

String Bean and Samoosa, September 6, 2011

It's nice having two pairs. The older two, aka Bigs, often go together and the younger pair, aka Littles tend to partner up as well. After sending Toads and Girly Girl off to school several weeks ago, it was time to get the Littles ready for their big day. Going to 'school' is something they both love and meets a need in all of our lives. They feel very independent and look forward to all of the 'big' things they get to do on school days.....take a lunch, carry backpacks, do work, play with friends. I look forward to accomplishing a long list of to-dos in record time. Tuesday and Thursdays are good all around. Here they are being big on the first day of school.

Easier With Practice?

In my mind, everything should be easier with the fourth kid. I've done it three times. I have this down. Really, why should the fourth one do it any differently than the previous three? In this particular case, I was not a willing participant. I did not want to do this. I should have, but just didn't want to take the time to do it.

Today is day 3 of being home with all four for the purpose of potty training the youngest. She turned two a couple of weeks ago and is most likely ready. Three different people took her to the restroom without any instruction from me last week during VBS. Evidently, she was giving all the 'I'm ready' cues. She has yet to do anything but sit on the potty. Nothing. Every 20 minutes or so. Nothing.

The other three either trained themselves or made it so easy for me that I can hardly remember it. I am sure this will be a lesson in my determination and patience - not hers. Practice certainly hasn't made it easier.

Different Kind of Two

Mommy's girl

We had a different kind of two this time. String Bean (who isn't so stringy anymore) turned two last week and we celebrated as usual. The requirements were inexpensive and nothing that required my house to be spotless. The local butterfly park in our neighborhood was perfect. She had a wonderful time and the older kids had their bikes. All were happy. What made this one different is it was the first two year old birthday party we have hosted at which I was not either caring for a newborn or extremely pregnant with the next little Lino. A bit odd when we thought about it, but so right. Our sweet little family is just right. We are in such a wonderful place in life and loving every minute of it. Yes, there are moments of wanting to pull your hair out because of exhaustion or just irritation, but that it is not the norm. The norm around here is laughter, silly kids, lots of reading and swimming and just plain old fun together as a family.

Her 'sugar' birthday!

Bubbles and playground did the trick

String Bean is such a wonderful part of the Six Linos. She has become quite chatty and makes her opinions known. Being the fourth, she has learned to jump in and get what she wants. She is a momma's girl....still cries after two years of being dropped off in the church nursery. She gives some of the best snuggles. She loves her Bubba. She is a gift from the Lord.

Why Not the Fourth Too?

We went four for four on this one....Today, String Bean had her tubes put in and adenoids removed. I tried to convince them to take her tonsils too, but her age and size of her tonsils did not permit it. This is the fifth time Dr. Newton Duncan has operated on our four children. It's old hat for us it seems. His office and business efficiency is one I wish more doctors would emulate. Even he was surprised that all four have had to do this. I'm not sure how all of the sinus - ear infections thing really works, but I know our four have it down pat. The older three have responded beautifully and this surgery made all the difference for them. I am just thrilled we finally got it done for String Bean. The days of hearing loss and 30 straight days of antibiotics are hopefully behind us.

String Bean and I arrived at the surgery center just after 8:00 and we were on our way home at 10am. She did wonderful. When we arrived in the pre-op room, there were two of her favorite things..........rocking chairs. She got hers and I got mine. She played with the doctors and stickers and rocked away. Just before they took her back, I kissed her on the head and the wonderful anesthesiologist picked her up and off they went. She insisted on taking her feet braces with her and only cried once I was out of sight. It really wasn't so bad. I had a twinge of 'wishing I could go with her' feelings and then it was off to the waiting room.

I barely had time to get out my reading material before Dr. Duncan came to get me. She was done! Under 30 minutes. Very routine. She did not think it was so routine when she woke up. It was all my fault. I forgot - actually never even crossed my mind, that her 'pacifier' is her left hand. Unfortunately, her IV was in her left hand and there was no way to get it in her mouth. She pulled at it, cried at me and was basically unhappy until it came out. Poor thing. I felt terrible.

We had a nice quiet day at home with one sister in Dallas visiting cousins, the older two at school and Nana here to help. The anesthesia wore off without complications and she took a great nap. It was nice to have a day at home without a lot of rushing around. String Bean ate and ate and ate - everything except for the Sonic slush. I still don't understand who could not like one of those, but she clearly doesn't. She did not really feel like eating when we ventured out to one of our favorites - Chuy's.

Other than a little bit of 'cranky' and pitiful our day went very well. I am so thankful for the Lord's provision for String Bean......a wonderful doctor and his available schedule, Nana who could come help, adaptable older children, excellent medical care at the center, a flawless procedure and an easy-going patient. She even had me and the nurses rolling with laughter in recovery with her sad cries for help with IV. I love this girl!!

The Day I Wasn't So Sure About

Last Tuesday brought about a day that I had tossed and turned about........for a long time. It brought about mixed emotions. The two little girls started preschool at our church's Early Childhood Center. Samoosa attended last year, but this year String Bean would join her. All four kids are gone at the same time and I am by myself. The ECC is a fantastic ministry and all of our children have learned and grown so much while there. I wasn't worried about the program. I was very excited to have almost five hours to myself. I pretty much have the whole semester of free time already planned out of things that I must get done while my four little helpers are not with me. But I was sad. String Bean was just 15 months when she started. She still isn't walking and she is still very much the string bean of the bunch. I just didn't think it was best for her to be away at school already. The other three didn't start until they were two years old. I struggled with the decision for a long time and came close to changing my mind several times over the summer - after paying all of the registration fees. It came down to this...........I will be a better mommy and wife if I have some time alone on a regular basis. It's not that I don't love having everyone around. It's that I can't continually function at a high level of excellence in our home if I don't have some down time to regroup and re energize. I haven't fully figured out what regrouping looks like, but I know it includes working out, uninterrupted time with the Lord, some naps here and there, reading and running errands - quickly and quietly. There will be lunches out with girlfriends along the way while floors are drying and laundry is washing. It will be different for sure.

2395 days ago, my journey at this full-time job we call 'mommy' began. It is one that never stops and is by far the most rewarding. I know the Six Linos will thrive and enjoy life together even if I am a little sad that our baby is already in preschool. She did have a good first day with no tears and her big sister took good care of her while enjoying her first day as well.

String Bean ready to face the day!

Samoosa the pack mule - carrying her sister's napmat in addition to all of her own stuff.

Samoosa's class off to a good start - 9 boys and 4 girls!

Maybe It is Just for the Moms

I am willing to consider and maybe admit it...............there is an ever so slightly, almost barely a possibility that one year old birthday parties are just for the mom. At least that's what my husband would argue. We have now hosted four of said 'one year old birthday parties' in our home with friends and family for each of our four Cs. They took a decent amount of effort and lasted just long enough for all to enjoy the food, cake and presents. I won't go into all of the details of the discussion, but it wasn't just for me. I would like to think. I want the kids to have memories - or pictures of memories. It is such a milestone and a special day. I want them to know that we celebrated their first year. I could go on, but it is a discussion I have decided not to pursue since we are past all of our one year old parties.

I'm glad we did it! Our last one was for String Bean a couple of months ago and she had a wonderful time. I have the pictures to prove it. She ate her sugar and dairy free muffin after being stared down and sung to and then opened her presents and played with her two little friends, Mr. D and Miss G. Great memories - even if it was just for me!

I Can't Believe It

It has been a year! So much has happened. Our youngest daughter, who we affectionately call String Bean, entered the world one year ago today at 3:43 pm. We had not planned on having four kids. I had very mixed emotions about the whole thing - the delivery, getting four kids age five and under dressed, the hospital (it was different from the other three), going anywhere with all four, having time to do anything, the recovery, my age, my life plans. It was all very overwhelming and continued to be many months after her arrival. But that day was so much fun! By the time you get to the fourth, unless there are suprises, you know the drill. We did and it was easy, exciting and so much fun to meet the precious gift that God had given us. She was perfect. I can look back on that day and know that God had it all planned out from the very beginning despite our plans and thoughts. I am so glad He knows what He is doing because our lives are so much better with String Bean.

A short clip of her first day.....

Happy Birthday String Bean!