Spring Break

Tiffany the daughter of friends of ours from Japan goes to college in Dubuque so she visited us over her spring break. The kids LOVED seeing her again and I LOVED having some extra hands around the house. Here they are showing off some cool glasses from Claire's!!

My plans of going to St. Louis for some R & R, was spoiled by sickness. Reagan got strep so she and Brett went on antibiotics. I ended up staying home with the kiddos while Scott went to St. Louis....lucky fella.......huh? I did get flowers and a gift certificate to the spa out of the deal!!! Anyways, Scott's mom was going to go to St. Louis as well to escape and hang with me and the babies, but didn't go since I didn't. She ended up coming to our house for two nights to play and help. It was nice enough to play some outside so Grandma played some baseball and taught the kids how to play 4 square. Go Grandma go!!

Growing babies

Addison and Brady are getting bigger each day. They went for check ups the other day and Brady is 9lbs and Addison is 7lbs 7oz. Yippy. My new job as "dairy cow" is apparently paying off!! They eat every 3-3 1/2 hours and still wake in the night to eat at least once. They are showing signs of getting through the whole night without waking, but we aren't quite there yet. They are smiling and beginning to talk, which is sweet as ever....a definate reward for all the poop, puke and lack of sleep over the last 8 weeks. Addison actually rolled over from her belly to her back while in the crib the other morning....might have been a fluke, but we'll take it as forward progress!!

In one of the pics you'll find the babes snugglin' in the crib as they sleep. They sleep on opposite sides of one crib now while they are small. Many times I find they have scooted to each other...too cute.

Concert, grandma, weekend away

Reagan had her first music concert for school. She was very nervous, but Scott and I convinced her that we were the only ones looking at her, and that the rest of the people in the gym were looking at their kids. That seemed to work and she did a beautiful job. She's pictured with her beloved teacher, Mrs. Smith. She's great and Reagan really just plain loves and adores her....so much that she sometimes calls me Mrs. Smith!!! Mrs. Smith was so kind to come to our house on the Monday of Spring Break with one of her daughters to watch all 4 kids so Scott and I could go to lunch....talk about a gift!!! Thanks Mrs. Smith.

On our last trip home Scott and I took the babies to the nursing home to introduce them to my Grandma Vera (Dad's Mom). It just so happened she was out in the lobby area when we arrived so she got to show them off to all of the old ladies there. She was pretty proud to not only have visitors but to hold the babies and be the talk of the Manor!!! How cute. To top it off Scott wheeled her in to supper when it was time, so that was a treat in itself. It's not every lady that gets escorted to dinner by a Marine!!!

The first weekend in March we gathered at a hotel with my Dad's brother's and their families. The kids were all about the pool, and the pool table. Scott took them swimming, then they sweet talked uncle Adam into going, then even Grandpa on the day we left. I'm glad I had babies to tend to and got to skip on the swimming this time around. It was a nice get together.

New baby pics

Reagan, tooth and tumble

Reagan lost her first tooth....finally!! The tooth was wiggly for a long time. Reagan is a bit queasy when it comes to blood and well, pain so the tooth stayed put for a long while after I fessed up to her that it would probably bleed some after it was pulled. I realized that the new tooth was already making an appearance so back with a story about a friend that swallowed his tooth I finally pulled it out. She was mad, then excited and anxious for the tooth fairy.

Reagan also recently had picture day at gymnastics. Grandma Vicki took her that night and captured Reagan in action.

Babies, babies, more babies

Addison and Brady Schmitz

Well, here they are. Addison Mae and Brady Thomas were born on Jan. 22, 2009 at 8:59 am. It was a long surgery but all went well considering it was my 3rd C section. Brady weighed 5lbs 10 oz and was 18 3/4 inches long. Addison weighed 5 lbs and was 17 inches long. Brady had some fluid in his lungs and some breathing issues so he spent 1 1/2 days in the NICU. Addison, though tiny, was able to come to my room right away. They are both super precious and we already wonder what life would have been like without them. Brady is very even tempered, patient, and loves to be bright eyed and just look around at what the world has to offer. Addison uses her voice to make up for her lack of size. She is a bit particular but loves to snuggle and seems to have a thing for her Daddy, which he is quite proud of.

We're having some feeding/latching issues with Addison on top of weight issues so we are not only 'tricking' her into latching but supplementing her feedings with formula so she doesn't have too much weight loss. Brady is a champ at latching, but is "gourmet" as the nurse called it and takes his time and enjoys his time at the feeding hole...in a nutshell, he's slow.

Grandma Vicki graciously stayed with Reagan and Brett on Wed-Friday evening so we could focus on the new ones. My parents were a huge help at the hospital on surgery day. My sister came and stayed with me at the hospital on Friday night so Scott could be with the older ones and get some good sleep. She then was at the house with the older ones on Sat night and Daddy was back with us. Thankfully the nurses in the nursery graciously took the babes to the nursery on Sat. night so Scott and I were able to get 7 hours of solid sleep. I was happy to sleep, but missed those little stinkers and was happy for them to return to our room on Sunday morning. Brady was cricumcised this morning and we were then discharged to come home. We came home to some anxious older siblings and a wonderful welcome home banner that Amanda helped them create. Reagan and Brett are very proud and are proving to be good helpers. Thanks to everyone for the prayers, well wishes and to our families for helping us....a new thing for us having never been in California and Japan when the other two were born.

See below for more pictures from Addison and Brady's first few days. Enjoy.