Dancing Snowman to Rival Sword Dancer

New Pictures

I want you to share in my joy for this family!!!!

I met Duane and Audrey about 2 years ago when they contacted me to take Bradley classes. They joined two other couples in my home for 12 weeks as they prepared for the arrival of their little one, Hope. I have had the opportunity to spend more time with them since Hope's arrival and watch them grow as a family.
This family was ROCKED about 6 months ago with the return of Duane's cancer, bigger and stronger than ever. It has been quite a journey for them and their strength astonishes me! Please share in the joy!!http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/duaneheinen

Another Carrot Hater, Chilling at the Table and WWF!!!

I promise, the WWF photo is NOT posed. The boys started out wrestling laying down next to eachother and by the time I got the camera, this was the situation. BUT they are BOTH smiling!!!
Orion prefers to keep a leg on the table while he eats and has made it VERY clear he is like his oldest sister and does not like carrots!!!
Ty on the other hand, LOVES carrots and eats his plus Orion's.
Enjoy!!!

Smart Boys and the Joy of Training

Two incidents today have me in awe, each involving one of the twins.
The first involves Ty. Shawn joined me in bed last night after being kicked out by sick babies over the last couple of weeks. Early this morning, around 6 am Ty woke and I brought him into bed to lay with me thinking he would just fall back to sleep, he normally does not get up for the morning until between 7 and 8 am. He babbled for a few minutes and then was changing position when he spotted Shawn next to us. He made every noise he could go get Shawns attention including a few very clear, "hi, da". Shawn gave him some attention and then went to the closet to get his clothes for the days, when Ty let out another "hi, da" and waited for Shawns response to which he clapped. Amazing!!!
The second incident occured while I was cleaning up lunch today. Orion was hanging out around the kitchen while I cleaned up. I opened the dishwasher and then began loading it when I glanced over at Orion who was sitting on the floor right next to the dishwasher (he usually stands holding onto the dishwasher and grabs things as I load it). He was simply sitting on the floor, shaking his head "no". Then it dawned on me. A few nights ago when Shawn was loading the dishwasher he had a little training session with Orion who of course wanted to participate. He kept telling Orion firmly, "no" and sitting him back down on the floor. The training had obviously worked as Orion remembered he should not stand up holding onto the dishwasher while we are loading it and he was self correcting. The fruit of training!!!

Ty is Crawling!!!!

He made it official last night, he is crawling!!! Slow and steady seems to be his motto at this point as he very cautiously moves one arm, then knee, then arm, then knee. He does not travel very far yet but I am sure it is just a few days away!! And for those of you wondering, he does not drag the leg like his brother!!! Let the races begin!!!
Orion on the other hand has decided he can stand without holding onto anything for seconds at a time and has been spotted nearly running along the furniture to get something he wants. He came down with a very sudden nasty cough and fever last night so we are hoping this time of strengthening his immune system is short lived.
The girls had a ballet recital yesterday and both did an amazing job. They really enjoyed this session with a new teacher and are asking to continue into the next session. They are both busy schooling, both doing first grade math and history together while doing other subjects individually.
Elijah has learned how to spell his name verbally and has been busy helping me cook lately.
Look for pictures soon!!!

Time For Me

As I type this, I am taking two hours of "me" time. Boy is it quiet!

The kids have been busy enjoying summer. Playing outdoors, going to the splash pad/wading pool, having playdates and planning to make a "club house". They have four different sets of blueprints drawn, have been creating things to sell to the neighbors to make money to buy the wood and creating the club house "notebook".

We are preparing to start homeschooling on a more regular basis in a few weeks and preparing for Anika's 7th birthday. Can you believe she is going to be 7, I can't.

Orion has decided to crawl MUCH earlier than any of our other children have. He crawls with one leg tucked underneath him and has gotten quite efficient in one week!
Amittai enjoyes watching Orion move around but has not taken the plunge yet. He has found his voice and enjoys blowing raspberries and making funny sounds with his mouth.
They are so fun!

Look for pictures later!

Summer Fun

Rub a Dub Dub, Three Boys in the Tub and More

Well tonight was a big night in the Preisler household, the babies joined Elijah in the big tub for a scrub (and of course a few pictures). Both boys are sitting on their own, Orion cut his first tooth last week and then attempted a fast escape this week (see the pictures). I have known since the beginning I have one mover on my hands but this is quite unbelievable. He is figuring out how to spin around while sitting or plop on the floor and roll. He moves his way to the edge of the blanket when we are outside to play with the grass, he is fascinated by it and would rather be in it then on the blanket. He is alo gaining a reputation for stealing toys from Amittai and taking him to the floor by his hair. He is a very happy boy, always smiling and babbling.
Amittai is continuing to gain rolls and I love it! I am secretly hoping his beautiful blue eyes stay that color forever! He loves to kiss, is enjoying exploring more with his hands and I believe he is getting close to cutting a tooth too. He loves to be talked to and just gazes at you with those blue eyes and smiles.
We have been enjoying going to the local wading pools and parks and even camped with the whole family over the 4th of July.
Check out the pictures!

First Pool Trip of the Summer and More

In a move that some of you would call "crazy" (you know who you are), I took all 5 children strawberry picking yesterday morning (well, kind of) and to a local wading pool yesterday afternoon.
The morning, off to pick strawberries:
It was 7:30 am when we all were up and moving for the morning (late for us). I asked the older 3 if they would like to go strawberry picking and they of course said, "yes". Strawberry picking started at 8:00 about 5 blocks down the road. We rushed to get dressed in grubby clothes as it had rained just a few hours earlier, eat a quick breakfast and get everyone out the door with stroller and water in tote. We pulled in at 8:20 and as I started unloading the van, a lady approached me and said, "before you get your kids unloaded, we are not letting anyone else pick today, we will open again at 8:00 Saturday." So...we loaded back up and headed home with plans to return Saturday.
The afternoon, off to the pool:
Last year we learned of the lovely Park and Rec rule that strollers were not allowed in the fenced pool area, although there is usually plenty of room. This was not an issue last year as Eli was walking and wanting to go in the water anyway. Different story this summer with two babies in tote. So...the babies and I parked under the shade of a tree right outside the fence. We were immediately approached by the lifeguard who asked the ages of the children. She then kindly informed me that they have a rule that any child under age 4 needs a swim diaper to go in the water. Elijah, 2 3/4 years old, took it very well as I explained that I know he does not need it but they have a rule because not all children know where to go potty like he does. After I let my frustration go (and payed her $2 for a swim diaper) the kids jumped in the water and had a blast!!!! The babies hung out with me on the blanket playing and watching the older 3 enjoy the water.
A day of adventure and fun!

Beautiful Sunday Afternoon

Boys and Sticks

Over the last few weeks I spend much of my time upstairs with the babies while watching the older 3 children play outside through the window. I have made an observation that is best described by me sharing with you their activities over a time span of 3 minutes:
Anika and Aubrey: racing down the driveway rolling their hula hoops
Elijah: hitting the basketball hoop pole with a stick
Anika and Aubrey: each playing with a jump rope, one swinging hers on the ground, the other jumping with hers
Elijah: throwing the stick at the basketball hoop pole
Anika and Aubrey: still playing with jump ropes
Elijah: hitting the tree trunk with a stick
Anika and Aubrey: still playing with jump ropes
Elijah: getting hit with the stick as it rebounded back at him after throwing it at the basketball hoop poll
Anika and Aubrey: still playing with jump ropes
Elijah: again hitting the tree trunk with a stick

On another note, being a nursing mom 3 months postpartum with twins, post c-section, clothes fit differently today then they did one year ago. As I worked through my closet this morning to get dressed for church, I chose a denim skirt, dark pink camisole and a pink sweater to wear to fit my new figure. I topped if off with black shoes and while tights. On the way home from church, Shawn turned to me in the car and said, "you look nice today, I am not sure about the Little House in the Prairie look though". Thanks hunny! That is exactly the look I was going for!!!

Hanging Out In Fuzzi Bunz

Reflections...20 Weeks Ago

It was 20 weeks ago today that Shawn and I entered the room to have our first ultrasound ever during a pregnancy to find out if we were truly having one or two babies. I remember being so sure they were going to tell me it was just one baby, a big baby. Just a few short seconds after the ultrasound was placed on my belly, the technician asked if we wanted to know if we were having one or two babies, we answered, "yes" and she stated, "you definitely are having two babies". I immediately broke into a sob of a pure sense of overwhelment. As I sobbed, Shawn reassured me he would make sure I had help for the first month every moment he was gone and it was going to be OK. As I could not pull myself together, he asked the technician if we could have a few minutes alone.
I immediately knew I still wanted to have a home birth but knew our preparation and plan would need to be adapted.
Over the next few weeks we prepared for twins. I, reading many books and having many discussions with Joy about our birth plan.
Everyone would ask us what we needed meaning clothes, cribs... My reply was always, "I am still trying to wrap my brain around birthing two, we will have a better idea what we need after they arrive".
As we tried to remain patient through a few false labor alarms and we approached 40 weeks, I felt great. We maintained our normal daily activities for the most part.
Finally, the day arrived, one day before their "expected date".
The emotional roller coaster that day brought was completely unexpected as the first baby boy was born after a very short labor just minutes after Shawn and Joy walked in the door, with the older kids missing it as they were downstairs. And then transferring to the hospital almost 12 hours later for the birth of the second baby boy via C-section.
Two healthy beautiful baby boys.
The events of that day strengthened our marriage, strengthened me as a natural childbirth educator and tested our ability to adapt and forgive among other things.
The following few weeks brought more unexpected challenges as my body healed, one baby had a mysterious ailment, we re-taught a baby to nurse, we had to figure out how to get 5 car seats in a mini van and still be able to access the buckles, I fought a rash and Shawn patiently dealt with a plethra of water problems in the house....
Blessed with help from family and friends, everyone's needs were met.
Wow, I am glad those challenges are in the past.

God has given me the grace to approach each day positively and most moments with patience in dealing with 5 children age 6 and under.
Truthfully, I am really enjoying this! Sure, some moments feel totally crazy but most are awesome moments like when the babies smile at each other, two sets of eyes gaze at me as they nurse, big sister labels the bathroom faucet "H" and "C" for little brother when he turns the cold off first, daughter says "I love ALL of you" with all the exuberance you can imagine, big brother comforts baby brother before mom gets to him.
This was all in his plan. Two years ago we bought a new dining room table and the salesman threw in two extra chairs for no extra cost.
Who would have guessed?

Snowmen In April

Last month at a friend's birthday party, Anika won a cute little recipe book. That evening, Aubrey was paging through it and decided she wanted snowmen cupcakes for her birthday party. To a mom of twin babies and 3 others, the cupcakes looked ridiculously time consuming. The week of her party I made numerous attempts to direct her otherwise, I told her to look through the book and see if there was anything "neater". She appeased me each time, and always came to the same decision. As it became obvious her little heart was set on Snowmen cupcakes in April, I sent Shawn shopping. As happens occasionally, I took on too much in the 48 hours prior to the party including going back to work for half a day for the first time since the babies and teaching a 3 hour class an hour after getting off work with the babies in tote. After 2 hours of work on the cute little cupcakes the morning of the party, the babies needed to eat so I left the cupcake finishing to my mother in law who arrived just in time!!! She did a great job of finishing them off with eyes and hats!

Ahhh....Relaxation!

Last night when Shawn got home from work he told me I needed to have both babies content at 8:30 pm. I thought that was a little strange but blew it off and went about my typical evening. By 8:30 he had the older kids in bed and sat with me and chatted in the living room as I fed the babies. At 9 pm there was a knock on the door, it was a friend of ours who has her massage therapy license and is currently a stay at home mom, she was going to give me an hour massage. What a treat!
Needless to say, I was very relaxed by bedtime and Shawn says I have the bounce back in my step today. Apparently he had this scheduled a few times over the last couple of weeks but each time, something came up with her family or I had something planned he was not aware of. The babies cooperated pretty well for him as he tended to them downstairs during the massage. Thanks Shawn!!!

Put away the books, today's lesson is bathroom cleaning!!

Instead of working on academics today, I decided it was a good day to give the girls a formal lesson on bathroom cleaning. I walked them through cleaning the toilet, counters, sinks, faucet, towel holders, cupboards, everything except the tub and floors. I introduced them to the light, safe cheminals we use and how to identify them under the sink. They have always been great at doing a quick scrub of the toilet or wiping down the counters and sink for me but today's lesson was cleaning "mommy style". I then made a laminated card listing the steps to cleaning the bathroom so they will not forget a step. The card hangs on a necklace, similar to the cards they wear each morning listing the steps to "get ready for the day". The test will be given Saturday morning as we prepare for Aubreys birthday party. Each girl will be assigned a bathroom, so if you join us that day, please let them know what a great job they did!!!
Well, I gues they are in the cleaning spirit (they must get that from Shawn!), now they are cleaning all of the upstairs windows to the height they can reach!!!

Easter

Who Knew a Table has Cheeks and Doctors Turn the Power Off?

Tonight just before I served dinner, Elijah spilled Anika's glass of water (a spill is almost a nightly occurance) so Anika decided to move to my regular seat. She stated, "I am sitting at the head of the table", there was a moment of silence and Aubrey added, "I am sitting at the cheek".
As they were enjoying ice cream after dinner Anika turned to Aubrey and stated, "I think chiropractors turn the power on and doctors turn the power off" (referring to the statement Shawn often makes that an adjustment of a subluxation turns the power to the nervous system on). Earlier in the day, I walked downstairs to notice on Anika's whiteboard a picture of two hand drawn spines, one labeled 'bfor' (which was not straight and the other labeled 'aftr', of course straight). The things they do and say!!!!!

Daddy's Birthday

Shawn's mom took the day off and joined us on Tuesday to celebrate his birthday. We had a photo cake made with a picture of the kids and I made one of his favorite dishes from Ciattis, spicy chicken penne. Anika decided we needed placecards which she designed using blue construction paper, Aubrey decided each chair at the table needed some flair with blue and red streamers and then the girls each colored a flurry of pictures and taped them all over the upstairs. We had a great meal and even took a few pictures of all of us together, something we do not do enough! Thank you Jody for joining us, it was really special!

Finally Joining the Blogging World

Welcome to our family blog! We hope to use this to keep family and friends up to date on our families day to day adventures, passions and dreams. We will also post photos for those of you who think we live so far away, so you can watch us grow!