bus riders

They ride the bus to school and can't get enough of it.  As I am sitting here massively sleep deprived I  can realize that before I can blink Chase will be the size of them. 

Sad & happy how fast it all goes. They really are turning into kids. 

I love them to pieces! 

4 weeks

Chase is 4 weeks old now....which means it's been 4 weeks since I slept more than 2 hours at a time! This little guy has a tough time at night. He seems to sleep like a champ during the day but when nighttime comes around he gets a tummy ache (from what we can tell). He is up most of the night grunting, puking, eating, crying, pooping and then repeat. Poor little dude seems so uncomfortable. This morning he literally went to sleep the minute the twins woke up but had been awake doing his thing since 4:30 am. I think I might have changed his clothes 7 times last night because of the puke.   I took him to the Dr. last week because I was getting concerned about the amount of spit-up that comes from this little guy. I mean with the amount that comes back up I just don't see how he can be digesting anything. But he in fact is getting lots to eat and weighed in at 9lbs 14oz (jumping from the 50th percentile to the 75-90th). He is actually looking a little bit chunky lately! I LOVE chunky babies. So he checked out healthy and there is no weight concern, which was reassuring. There is a question though on whether or not he my have reflux but it is puzzling because he seems to be more comfortable during the day than at night.  So I am hoping that with his one month check up might come some answers for us about his poor little tummy issues.  Chole had terrible reflux and we were able to treat her once we finally figured out what was going on so I have hope that we can make him more comfortable soon.  Other than all that he is doing so good. He really is a sweet little guy. He is just starting to make serious eye contact with us and make little cooing  noises. I love love love when they start interacting with you a little bit...it makes being awake all night not quite so tough.  I have been eating up every snuggle with this guy. He sure does love his Momma. I can't believe when people ask me how old he is I am now saying 4 weeks. I had a sitter for the twins last Friday and Chase & I went to the Nordstrom sale. I absolutely love going places with just one baby. It is so peaceful. I just never got to experience that with the twins because I always felt like it was such a fiasco trying to go anywhere when they were this age with the bottles, double stroller etc.  I am finding it such a treat to be able to just enjoy this little guy. Plus I think any 2nd or 3rd baby seems easier than your first.  So despite being really tired we are doing good.  Pics from my phone from the last week or so! 

Halloween

Chloe was Strawberry Shortcake & Carter was obviously Superman. I thought Carter would be thrilled to wear his costume but as it turns out he is not so into dressing up for Halloween. It was like pulling teeth trying to get this kid to wear his costume. He refused to wear the cape and would not let me buckle the back. So he ended up wearing a backless Superman costume. Whatever works right?  You would think I would have just given up but I was determined to at least get some pictures of him in it. He looked so dang cute in it! I couldn't even bribe him with candy (like you can most kids) because he doesn't eat candy. Anyway we had a fun evening trick-or-treating with the Andrews family and we also made an appearance at Daddy's work during their little Halloween party.  I am still working on coordinating getting out of the house with the 3 of them and throw in trying to get 3 year olds in costumes??? Forget about getting anywhere on time.  

 this is what Chase did most of Halloween :) 

2 weeks

Time is going so fast I am eating up every bit of this newborn time as I know it goes so fast. Chase is such a good baby and loves to snuggle with his Momma. I am a tad bit obsessed with this baby I think!  I just can't get enough of him.  I want to freeze time! 

My two little guys 

first week

Things have been pretty low key around our house since we got home from the hospital a week ago Monday. Jerame has been off of work so we have been in a little bit of a honeymoon period enjoying our new little addition. He has pretty much been manning the twins while I take care of the baby most of the time. We haven't been up to much but it feels like time is flying by.  I am really enjoying having a baby around the house again. I had forgotten so many things about what it's like having a newborn. I can't get enough of his newborn smell, sounds and warm little body. The twins came down with a pretty nasty cold while we were in the hospital and promptly passed it on to all of us including Chase. It has been so sad watching a 1 week old baby sneeze cough and have a runny nose. It is just impossible to keep the germs away from the baby as the twins are constantly touching his hands and face. He is still feeding really well though and is happiest when he is eating. We had his first Ped appointment on Monday and he had already gained back his birth weight and then a little bit to, 7lbs 12oz. The first few nights we were home he was sleeping like a champ for a newborn but things have not been quite as awesome for the past few nights. I hope it's just the cold and he will go back to being a good sleeper but I am not going to hold my breath. I am still getting better sleep than I did when the twinnies were first home with us. The lack of sleep is tough but I realize it's not going to last forever

 Jer took me out for dinner for my bday on Friday the 7th little did we know what would be happening the very next morning. We had planned for the twins to stay the night with my Mom & Jerry that night as sort of a practice run for the following weekend (when he was scheduled to be born).  So it really worked out perfectly because they were already all set to go.

31st bday and about 12 hours before we would meet baby Chase

 touching our baby for the first time such a wonderful moment 

 I cried when the twins came to meet Chase it was a moment full of so much emotion for me...my babies meeting the new baby. I had already  missed them so much and was worried how they would feel about everything. They did so good though and were really excited to meet him. So far they have both done really well adjusting to having a new little guy around all things considered. 

All set to go home!  We stayed 2 nights in the hospital and both Jer and I were so ready to get home

1st bath at home 

 

That flash is bright Mom

Crazy, cute and wild twinnies...these two are quite the handful right now.  Chase sleeps through most of the crazy antics around here I am sure he got used to all the noise when he was in my belly so it's probably what he is used to. It's just so different than it was with the twins when we would make the house super quiet for them to sleep. I am not sure this baby will ever know what 'quiet' is! 

meetings Pops

 celebrating my belated birthday at my Mom & Jerry's house with our THREE kids (wow!)

 Papa

 Nana 

Grandma

Chase James

Chase James Thurik 24 hours old

Chase decided it was time to come out on his own terms on Saturday the 8th (day after my Bday!!)  my water broke at about 2:30am.  He was born via csection at  8:28 am. He weighed 7lbs 10oz and is 21in long.  My Dr. just happened to be the weekend on call Dr. which was such a blessing. Her being there brought my nerves about the surgery down a lot. This csection experience compared to that I had with the twins has been like night and day. The recovery has been so much faster and easier this time. I was even up and out of bed walking around the same day as my surgery.  I am just feeling so thankful for the experience we have had so far.  We are home now adjusting to the craziness of our life but it is so so so wonderful to be home with little Chase & the twinnies. He has already fit in just perfectly.  He seems to be a very easy going baby, eats & sleeps well. Plus it is just so much different and less stressful just having one baby. I have been quite the baby hog because all I want to do is hold him.  Lots more to come but here is a peak. 

off to school we go

Going to school! 

It has been so nice having somewhere we have to be by 9am almost every morning. We all get up together and get dressed and have breakfast (most mornings) with Jerame before he goes to work.  We have fallen into a nice little routine since the start of preschool and the kids seem to be adjusting very well and I have to say I am liking having a little bit more structure to our days. You can only go to so many parks and playdates before it gets a little boring.  They were so ready for some extra stimulation to because lets face it I can only be so much fun day after day.
Nothing else really new to report on the baby home front which is good because since I am having a scheduled csection I think I would rather it happen when it's planned for rather than my water breaking at 2am or something.  But that happening is still possible so I am trying to be as ready as I can for anything in the next week. I am feeling really ready and just so excited to meet this little person that I have been hanging out with for the past 9 months.  I am also really excited to finally be able to share him with Carter and Chloe. Although I know it will be an adjustment I think they are going to be really good with him.  I just can't help but think how lucky he will be to have them as his older siblings they are pretty special little peeps.