How are the other kids adjusting?

(I wrote this post a while back, but for some reason it didn't post- trying again).

I get that question quite a bit... Overall, I think they are all doing really well. Havana, at first, was all into holding Asa, but that has died down a little bit and she is back to doing life as normal. Jonah really has no interest in Asa unless he is crying- then he will ask why he is sad. Selah, on the other hand, is obsessed with Asa. She is constantly trying to see him and will ask us to take her to him at least 10 times a day! She always blows him a kiss every time she sees him and she will sit down and extend her arms often throughout the day which is her way of asking to hold him! She can't get enough of "ba-ba"

Overall they are doing well! Lots of emotions and fights between them but that most likely has more to do with their age and that we have been house bound for a few weeks! Ha!

Indoor Snow!

Today, we made indoor snow out of cornstarch and shaving cream! The kids LOVED it! It kept all three entertained for about and hour and then Havana played for about another hour in it! We put buttons and paper clips and other fun treasures in there. The kids used forks and spoons and cups to dig around and scoop up the snow! It was a blast!

Havana did ask me at one point if we were making "Compost"- I told her no and she said, "well, it smells like compost so I thought we were making compost." - um, I think she has had enough science lessons for one week! Ha!

Has anyone ever told you?

Today, Havana said to me,

"Mama, has everyone ever told you that you are so beautiful?"

My heart melted!

In Charge

Well, Havana is obsessed with being "in charge" -- she always wants to know who is in charge and when will it be her turn to be in charge. Don't know if this is an age thing or a an oldest thing, but it has been going on for some time. She doesn't hesitate to let me know that she is in charge of Pluto (her favorite stuffed animal) when I remind her that mommy and daddy are in charge. She also talks about one day when mommy, daddy, ms. erin, ms. chelsea, ms. sadie (her babysitters) aren't here that she will be in charge. I would tell her that okay, one day she will be in charge when no one else is around, but Jason was telling her that she isn't old enough yet and so I changed my message to be the same as his. :)

The other day, I was out with Baby Asa and when I got home Havana told me that they watched a show while daddy got in the shower. She then told me that she was in charge of Jonah and Selah because he wasn't around. I asked Jason if he told her she was in charge - he had not, but she took it upon herself. Sneaky girl.

This morning, I went in to get the girls up and Havana was already out of bed playing next to Selah's crib. I told her I was really proud of her for playing so well with Selah while she was waiting for mommy and she said, "I told Selah that she was never going to get her "this" (the name of a stuffed animal) back ever if she didn't obey me because I was in charge." Oh goodness. She is a control monster. haha. 

Oh my gosh!

Havana recently started saying, "oh my gosh" and she quickly taught it to Jonah. We have tried to correct this speech. We tell them that it isn't very respectful and we tell them, "the Duggers say oh my goodness."

The other night I heard Jonah talking to himself in his crib. He would say in a deep voice, "oh my gosh. Oh my gosh." Then he would say in a high voice, "The Duggers say oh my goodness! The Duggers say oh my goodness!

Those nighttime conversations are so funny to me. I gives me a glimpse into what they are thinking about and what sticks with them! :)

Asa's First Week Recap!

Well, yesterday (January 11th), Asa turned one week old! I can't believe he has already been an active part of our family for a week. It is just further proof that time flies.

His first week has certainly been atypical. He was born on Friday and that was a smooth and fun process. On Saturday, Jason returned home to deal with the children. His mom came down on Saturday afternoon and so she, Jason, and the children came to visit us quickly in the hospital. Shortly after they left, I got a phone call from my mom telling me that my grandmother (and last living grandparent) had died. It was a certainly a weird experience to be "isolated" in the hospital and be excited about our baby and sad for her passing. It took a while to process.

On Sunday afternoon, around 2pm, Jason and the children picked me up from the hospital. He had a pizza in hand and we went home and ate lunch as a family. It was good to be home and together with everyone. For dinner that night, I made pork chops. I had to hit the ground running in terms of catching up on laundry and dishes, but it made my heart happy to be back.

Monday was our first full day together as a family. Asa struggled throughout the night and so Jason let me sleep in until after 10am! The rest of the day we played together. Eating left over pork chops and pizza for lunch and dinner. Monday night, we put the kids down to bed as usual and then a few hours later, around midnight, Havana woke up throwing up! Now, if you know me, you know vomit is pretty much my number one fear in life. Thankfully I was in Asa's room with him so I didn't have to see it, but I was still thinking, "you have got to be kidding me?!" Wondering why she had to get it our first day together. She got sick a few times throughout the night - I heard it, but thankfully was hidden away in Asa's room. He didn't sleep well that night either, but I was able to sneak out a few times and start some of her dirty laundry.

Tuesday - she was sick. Running a high fever and not eating. She would occasionally perk up after her meds kicked in, but always for brief periods of time. She would drink some juice or water, but wouldn't eat anything. Thankfully, she never threw up, but still was "needy" and sick. Which meant a lot of TV.  Asa slept well Tuesday night going 3-4 hours between feeds. yay.

Wednesday - still sick Havana. Still running a high fever. She would nap on the couch a lot and around 1pm that day finally asked for food. She asked for french toast, but we didn't have any which sent her into a lot of tears. Jason loaded her up and they went to Meijers and got her french toast and some more juice and other quick things we needed. She ate some, but not a lot and then wanted to lay down again. She continued to nap and lay down the rest of the day. I ended up making a homemade chicken noodle soup for us all to eat for dinner. Oh, and normally the kids go to their Bible Study, Awana, on Wednesdays, but we told her she couldn't go that night and she cried for hours. She was so bummed. I felt so sad for her. In other news, Asa slept GREAT on this night only waking every 4-5 hours!

Thursday- I left the house before anyone was awake (9am) to get Asa to his doctors appointment. He weighted 8 pounds, 6 ounces which means he was 3 ounces over his birth weight! That is amazing and the doctor couldn't stop talking about it. He also measured 21.25 inches which meant he grew 1.4 of an inch. Way to go, buddy! Jason texted and said everyone was healthy and happy so we all made the 1.5 hour trip to my grandmother's funeral. I was glad to be able to go. I was planning on just going with Asa, but Jason wanted to drive me because of my lack of sleep and since all the kids were healthy we made a day out of it. He took the older children to Chick-fil-A while I was at the funeral with Asa. This was the first time anyone from my family had met Asa. I told Jason that night I still don't think I have had time to process everything between the newborn, being stressed out with Havana's illness, and the funeral. Asa slept well again this night.

Friday- first "normal" day... everyone was healthy. We hung around and just spent time as a family. It was nice. A friend brought over dinner and so my week of cooking for our family was over. It felt good. Asa was up more throughout the night on this night, but hoping that was a fluke and not a regression. ha.

Throughout this crazy week - Asa has been a trooper.  I can't express clearly enough how great he has been during the day. He put himself on the eat, wake, sleep cycle that I always strive for and has had a few nights of going several hours at night. He is able to look around and entertain himself which Selah struggled with... so that is freeing. His nights have been great - sleeping in his own room. He really is just a great boy. He seems so sweet and mellow. Just like his daddy. :) Jason says he thinks Asa looks most like him of any of our children. We both think he resembles Jonah a lot too. He has proven to be flexible and not needy. He does like to eat every 2 hours during the day, but I'm okay with that.

For me, I felt like I hit the ground running. Came home and had children to play with and housework to do. Then, with the illness, I was cleaning like a mad woman - sanitizing anything that stood still. Less than a week after having a baby loading everyone up to travel for a funeral. My body certainly hasn't rested much and I'm just now beginning to feel the affects of that, but hoping after a day or two of taking it easy and just being together as a family I will feel more like myself. We just got around to giving Asa his first bath today. Poor guy was pretty stinky. Ah, life with a newborn. :)

Tomorrow we are planning on going to church. Jason took the kids last week without me... which is where I suspect Havana picked up her nasty virus. Praying that tomorrow will be germ free. This cold and flu season is one in which I'm constantly stressing out over everything. Which is my problem and one I told Jason I really want to pray through... it isn't normal or healthy and truly robs my joy... it needs to go. So, please be praying for me as I fight this fear.

I am looking forward to this next week where Jason will still be home and we can begin to adjust to life and get into a regular routine. For a few days in there we watched a lot of shows because Havana was sick on the couch and I had a newborn so couldn't take the other kids places. The past two days we have cut back to our regular amount and it has been very refreshing. Looking forward to engaging with the children some more. We have plans this next week, but nothing too crazy or hectic and I have friends bringing over meals so I can sit back and enjoy life with my littles. I am extremely blessed!

Fire Station field trip!

The other day the two older children went with daddy to a field trip to the fire station. Jonah LOVES fire trucks and so he was a very happy camper!