A few more pics (Jadon wasn't feeling well this day)

You can tell looking at Jadon's eyes that he just wasn't feeling so good. My poor little man.

A little fresh air

I got a new camera for Xmas so have been taking a lot of pictures and playing with the different effects!! Fun fun.

Nothing stays the same....

Well, We have entered a new phase with at least one of our kids. This afternoon the babies were put down for naps, just like any other day. I heard the girls talking and playing, but figured they would go down soon. Instead, the laughing escalated so I went up to tell them to settle down only to find Addison in Kaylee's crib and the two of them playing. After a severe scolding, I placed Addison back in her bed, "WE DO NOT GET OUT OF OUR BED, GO TO SLEEP." An hour later I hear a door upstairs opening and closing repeatedly. On my way up stairs to confront my escapee daughter, I run into her on the stairs. Once again, MAJOR PUNISHMENT and back to bed. She will not be rewarded by getting out of bed. Not even a few minutes later, I hear a thud upstairs and find Addison once again out of her crib and standing next to Kaylee's crib..... AGGGGGGGG..... the nap isn't over yet. I may continue this saga later, but we may be moving to beds very soon.... uuuugggghhhhh and they aren't even 26 months old yet. I planned to keep them in cribs til they left for college.

A classic for all the moms out there

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMhuAtyFCrw

My All Time Favorite Quote... How True It Is...

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ~ Elizabeth Stone

Gym Day

This morning the kids went to the gym which is by far one of their favorite activities and I am continually amazed at the sheer exuberance they show with each and every activity. It is clear that Mr. Kevin their instructor is crazy about them. We laugh however at how well all the children play together and until the bubbles come out. Once Mr. Kevin starts blowing bubbles it's every baby for themselves as they push and shove to get up front and pop the bubbles. It's babies gone wild. At the end of the session, they are coaxed out of the gym with the promise of stamps. The babies LOVE to get stamps while the mothers HATE stamps.... We end up with stamp on their clothes, shoes, my clothes, their sheets... etc. As you can see in the photo below, Kaylee ended up with stamp on her face today. I think they could go with a little less ink. But, the babies love their stamps and talk about them all day, so whatever makes them happy makes me happy. As you can see, just getting ready to go to the gym wore my little man Cody out.

Sunday

Sunday we went to church and then over to Lupe Tortillas with Mom and Dad for lunch and let the babies play in the sandbox. Jerry and I had also taken the babies to Lupe's on Saturday, but they didn't get to play as it was blowing and cold so we all sat inside. Upon leaving, a couple next to us commented on what a beautiful family we have and how well behaved our children were. I have to admit they were very good... a Christmas miracle. We are making progress and it's getting a little bit easier day by day. But, nothing makes the kids happier than to run around.... so our next trip really hit the spot. Some friends of ours daughter graduated from high school early and is starting A&M in January so they had a graduation party at their house. They live out in Hockley with several acres of land, so the babies were able to run free and burn off some energy. They also made some new friends.

Lots of stockings to fill

Festive for Church

ARRRGGGGHH the family has colds

The family officially has colds (all except Jerry and Cody). The runny noses the babies had forever turned green and thick (sorry, gross) with a congested cough and the kids ran fever a few days. Fortunately, the school said everyone has colds and snotty noses and the kids don't have to be kept home since they aren't running fever anymore. As I dropped Jadon off, Anna his teacher wiped some green slime from his nose and said don't worry.... they all have it. I guess that is good????? But, I was soooo scared they would send them home with me and I need a little break. We are still working diligently to keep Cody from getting it. My hands are raw from so much sanitizer.

Oh, for those of you who don't know... the triplets go to "school" or mom's day out Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00 to 1:00 so I can get stuff accomplished.

1st Meeting with Santa Claus

The babies had to get their flu shot this morning, so after shots we went over to the mall for cookies and a picture with Santa. Fortunately we were there when Santa arrived at 10:00a.m. because the line formed quickly. Kaylee, who is normally our most outgoing child had a meltdown when passed off onto the knee of Santa. Who would have thought it from her?? Personalities are sooo funny and complex.

They grow up so fast...

I was just thinking about Cody and how much babies change that 1st year.

Our Crazy Turkey Day.. No REALLY I mean it!!!

Well, it's now the end the day on Thanksgiving 2008. It was wonderful seeing friends and family and meeting my cousins new 6 week old daughter. The day started for us at 7:15 with blah blah blah chatter from the triplets and newborn cooing over the baby monitors. I fixed a bottle and started Cody's feed while Jerry started making the triplets breakfast, then I fed the triplets while Jerry showered up for the day given they yelled "Mommy feed" when Jerry tried to feed them. We want this to be a good day.... so ok, mommy will feed. We then let the triplets have a rare treat.... getting to shower with Mommy. They always take baths before bed, so a shower is a treat. "It's raining in the shower," they said I'm guessing 50 plus times as they tried to wash themselves. I lathered them all up and then rinsed their 3 slippery little bodies. One by one, I passed them off to Jerry who diapered them and put them back into their PJs. We wanted to keep their Thanksgiving outfits clean until time to leave. We proceeded to suction snot out of noses as Jadon and Addison have had runny noses for well over a month now. It's either the longest cold I've ever encountered or allergies... whatever the cause... it's a PAIN. "Good boy, good boy. Gotta get the boogies. You are such a brave boy... gotta get the boogies out." Babies response, "AAAAAA NOOOO BOOOGIES.... AAAAAAA." After the suction trauma, we consoled them with candy and then moved on to brushing three sets of teeth. "Open, No, don't bite the toothbrush. Let me she those teeth. No, don't bite it.....good girl.... brusha, brusha, brusha....". They spent a little time on their potties trying to tee tee poo poo. "Sit down, are you done? No? Then sit down! Now!... Ok, I'm let put your britches back on. Then SIT DOWN!", but with no success today and went on to play and fight over mommies brushes and other fun bathroom novelties. "Give Jadon a brush... you have two brushes, give Jadon one. We have to share NOW PLEASE.... thank you." Each had a large hair band that they would wear as necklaces... Kaylee grabs Addison and is pulling her around the bedroom by the neck with Addison screaming. "KAYLEE!!! LET GO OF ADDISON NOW!!! ONE... TWO... thank you." I then hold and try to console Addison. At this point it's close to 10:30... and we have to decide do we want to dress them and load up about 11:30 and drive around an hour to try and nap them given the Thanksgiving festivities fall during our normal nap time or wait an hour and have them skip naps all together... We decide to dress and drive. Someone poops (not on potty) can't remember who, then after convincing them to put on their "pretty dresses" and "handsome clothes" it's time to fix hair. Addison has been carrying around my brush and is unwilling to give it up. If I let her keep it, she will mess up her ponytail and bow with the brush once her hair is fixed. We gently remove the brush from her hand, but a meltdown still occurs... then a battle. Addison doesn't want her hair fixed and she is hard headed. Well, we battled Addison for who knows how long and needless to say after placing the ponytail and bow in her hair multiple times, she finally entered the car with ponytail and bow in tact but with tear stained cheeks.

We drove around about an hour and Jadon fell asleep 10 minutes from our destination. No sleep from the girls. The party was great, good food, and good friends. Mom, Dad, Jerry, and I were each responsible for one baby and all in all, the babies were pretty good... no meltdowns. I had Kaylee during the meal. She insisted on trying everything on my plate then spitting it back out into my hand, "don't like." I think all the babies ate bread. As we were getting ready to leave Addison poops and only wants Daddy to change her. As it's been a good day despite the morning hair episode and she is exhausted, I decide not to go into battle and call in her Daddy to do the honors. We load up around 4:00 and decide to drive around and give them a chance to nap. The girls nap a while and we are home around 5:30. Somewhere during this day (it's all a blur) we managed to give Cody his bottles and keep him happy. Thank goodness he is such a good natured little guy.

When we left this morning the kids were dressed, shoes on, hair fixed, ponytails, bows, lacy socks. I look at them now. Addison has no socks and shoes on the wrong feet, hair halfway in a ponytail and halfway like bedhead. Kaylee has one shoe and sock on, hair looks like she put her finger in a light socket while Jadon has only socks on and is screaming for applejuice. Jadon is crying and crying and yes crying for applejuice which is IN HIS SIPPY CUP (sorry all bold... I just think I yelled this 10 times), but for some reason he won't drink it.... if he could only tell us what the problem is..... arrrrgggghhh....."just go to timeout until you can stop crying." He settles himself and comes back in saying, "Good boy." We have 3 tired fussy babies. I take Kaylee upstairs to change her poo poo and put her in PJs but she now doesn't want to take off her pretty dress. Battle weary, I now plead... PLEEEAASSEE be a good girl PLLLEEEAAASSEEE. After a count of three she complies. Jerry changes the others into their PJs. We suction noses again. I won't go into detail on that meltdown and exhausted, we decide to put in The Tigger Movie. Ahhhhh, quiet... I have Jadon, Addison, and Cody in my lap and Jerry has Kaylee. All is good up until Addison accidentally headbutts Cody and now he is screaming. I pass him off to Jerry and now have Addison, Jadon, and Kaylee in my lap, but it's quiet again. It's 6:15, can we do this until 8:00???? Please, can we do this until 8:00. We had decided to skip baths since they had a shower that morning so we just have to keep them quiet til 8:00. I don't know about 30 minutes go by and Jerry and I sit back and smile at each other with a knowing "Life is good kinda smile." I ask if he can get the camera since I have all the triplets snuggled in my lap and would like to capture the moment. He takes a couple pictures and I tell Kaylee to get her finger out of her mouth, but after the 3rd picture Kaylee proceeds to vomit (yes, vomit) as she has gagged herself with her own finger (see photos) (WHAT!!!!! NOOOOO!!!!! KAYYYYLLLEE!!!!! YYYUUUCCCKK!!!) I snatch her up, strip off her clothes (the smell is overwhelming) and throw her in the bathtub. Well, so much for no baths, however I have to say bathing only one baby is pretty easy. When Kaylee and I rejoin the group, it seems everyone has grown tired of Tigger and Pooh and are now running laps around the kitchen island. I start this blog as they seem to be playing ok for the moment and then realize we haven't fed them dinner... well, Jerry and I weren't hungry or planning to eat so dinner so it just slipped by us. It's now 8:00 and I proceed to pull out goldfish, yogurt, cheese, and crackers. Ok, everyone is now fed. Not the best dinner but it will do for tonight. We point our brood in the direction of the stairs and start the verbal onslaught of "Upstairs! Go!! Now!! Faster!!!" "GO!! One, Two... thank you!! Go" until each baby is upstairs and in the room. We then sit in the floor and I proceed to read them their "Nite Nite Books" using all my funny voices. They listen and laugh and we finish with our bedtime prayer and I thank God for such a wonderful Thanksgiving with my beautiful family. As I close the door Kaylee shouts out "Nite Nite Guys."

The funny thing is, I'd love to tell you this day was unusual, but it pretty much represents every day in the Hopkins home... crazy busy, mind numbing, ear shattering, nerve rattling, BLISS.... I love my life.

God bless everyone, we had a great Thanksgiving. Oh, it's 9:15.... I have to go make Cody's last bottle of the night (and clean today's bottles and make tomorrows bottles and... and... and...). Yes, we still have one baby to put to bed....

May we all fall on our knees

I found this on a friend from our church's blog and loved it.... so I pass it along.

"It is clear to me that God allowed this man to be elected President so that this country would have no where to go but on it's knees. Change, real change, can only come about through prayer and sacrifice. May we find comfort, mercy and forgiveness on our knees at the feet of Jesus."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf0XIRZSTt8

Cody's 4 Month Check-up

Cody had his 4 month well child exam yesterday and he is a bruiser!!! He was 26.25" and 16 lbs 15 oz.:

At 4 months:
your child is 16.938 pounds, and that is at the 77th percentile for weight.
your child is 26.25 inches, and that is at the 82th percentile for height.

Quite different than our petite little triplets whose stats for 4 months are below....

Kaylee 23" 10lbs 4oz
At 4 months:
your child is 10 pounds, and that is at less than the 3rd percentile for weight.
your child is 23 inches, and that is at the 5th percentile for height.

Addison 23" 11lbs 10oz
At 4 months:
your child is 11.5 pounds, and that is at the 5th percentile for weight.
your child is 23 inches, and that is at the 5th percentile for height.

Jadon 24.75” 13lbs 4oz
At 4 months:
your child is 13 pounds, and that is at the 7th percentile for weight.
your child is 24.75 inches, and that is at the 29th percentile for height.

Cody's Baptism

"Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost." Matt. 28-19

On Sunday, November 16th, 2008, Cody Dale Hopkins was baptized at St. Edward's Catholic Church. David and Kerri are his Godparents but were unable to attend due to the pregnancy (yea again!!), so our VERY dear friends Pam and Curtis Greenfield flew down from Oklahoma and stepped in as proxy. We LOVE THEM!!!!!!