Is It Already August????

Alright, so I'm not so good at keeping up on this whole blog thing either. I thought since Brian wouldn't have to send updates to Isaac for the website, we could keep up easier. Guess not.
I apologize to anyone who checks it frequently (which is probably not many now!). So I thought I would do a blog on June, one on July and catch up on August.
OK, so the news on the family. Brian is still very busy working two jobs. He works his day job with the Gas Co. and then comes home and works on his website until we go to bed. Hopefully it will be finished fairly soon so we can all enjoy doing more day to day stuff together. I can't say enough though how I appreciate all the hard work he puts in so I can be at home with the kiddos. Whenever Brian comes home for lunch or the end of the day, he is greeted with four enthusiastic versions of "Dad- ee!!"
Big sister Brittney is recovering well and continuing physical therepy for her knee after replacement surgery of her ACL back in March. She is getting ready for her junior year in high school and just got her drivers permit. She is looking foward to getting in all the hours required for her license. Guess she will be the one driving anywhere we go now.
Brians sister Beth continues to come over in the afternoons to help me with the fantastic four. She has been helping since last June and I so appreciate all the time she has devoted to our family. The kids just love her.
I, of course, am doing the most amazing, wonderful, rewarding job I could ever have asked to do. I get to be at home with my amazing, wonderful children.
Back to June.
Some highlights for June for the quads- Hailey started taking steps away from the furniture
Brooklyn started cutting her top teeth - all four
We had our appointment for the High Risk center. They get looked at by a physical therapist, a nutritionist and the high risk doctor. They were all amazed with how well the kids were doing. Connor weighed in at 21.6 lbs and was 28 inches. Dylan was 18.3 lbs and 28 inches long. Hailey was 17.5 lbs and 28 inches. Little Brooklyn tipped the scales at a whopping 13.45 lbs and was 26 inches. My kiddos have never been very big eaters. When they were babies, I would hear of other little ones downing their 8 oz. bottles while mine would barely finish 4 or 5 ounces. Well, except Connor who has never had a problem with eating. Anyways, their weight was the big concern of the appointment. The doctor wanted us to put Dylan, Hailey and Brooklyn on PediaSure. They were already still on the Go and Grow formula because of their low weight, and now we have to add in more. Well, Brooklyn, who really needs the extra calories, has some allergy to the PediaSure. She vomits anytime she drinks it. The first time I thought she just got the flu, but after waiting a few days with no problems, I tried the PediaSure again and sure enough, she got sick again. So no PediaSure for Brooklyn. Instead I double the amount of powder for the formula and give her all the high fat foods she will take.
On to the pictures:

Auntie Crissi, Cousins Kiley, Chloe, Caity, Gramma Ginny and Connor

relaxing before celebrating cousin Micah's 1st birthday

Papa Paul and Dylan
Papa Paul, Dylan and birthday boy Micah
Cousin Abby came to join in the fun

Hey Mom, Why don't you let us play on our stairs? (Dylan)

Having fun on Gamma and Papa's stairs
My sister Jen's family came over to visit. Kiley loves to pose for the camera.
Chloe loves to do hair. Connor doesn't look so sure.
Kiley and Hailey

A Gramma Ginny and Papa Paul Weekend

Brian and I celebrated our 7th anniversary this past weekend. My parents came and spent the weekend with the little ones. So while we were relaxing up at Lake Arrowhead, Gramma Ginny and Papa Paul had quad duty. Of course the kiddos had to show Gramma and Papa how things are done around their crib.

Connor telling Gramma "its time to get dressed"

"Time for lunch" - Brooklyn
"See Gamma and Papa, we love jumping on the couch" - the whole crew
We love to help load the dishwasher
"Thank You Gamma and Papa for taking such good care of us!!"

The Great Outdoors

The little ones just love to be outside. It is a common sight to see a line of little back ends heading toward the nearest door that is left open. Whether someone is coming or going or just letting Roxy outside, anytime the door is cracked open, you can bet there is a munchkin heading that way.

Enjoying the swing out back

Dylan, Connor, Hailey and Brooklyn

We set this tent up for the them quite often. They love to go inside, crawl around and just have a grand ol time. Its funny to see the things that amuse them. Just the feel of the tent bottom on the grass and the wind blowing the sides of the tent can keep them entertained for quite a while.

Happy Mothers Day

Yeah, yeah, I know. This is a couple weeks late, but better late then never. My Mothers Day consisted of a wonderful morning and great walk with my four little ones. Brian then took over so Brittney (our 16 year-old) and I could go spend the day with my sisters and Mom. Meanwhile, after their afternoon nap, Brian took the quads over to his Mom's for a barbeque.

Cousin Devon, Grandma Nancy, Brooklyn and

Dylan having fun in the sun.

"I don't want to go" - Hailey

"Hey guys, look what I found" - Connor

Connor exploring nature

"OK, OK, I give up" - Dylan

I'm lost in a sea of green - Brooklyn

Hey! Can I eat this? - Brooklyn

Playtime
If anyone reading this is interested in the beginning of our adventure with four little ones, you can read more on our website http://www.californiaquadruplets.com/.

New Stats

At our last check-up with the High Risk Infant Center at Loma Linda University, the doctor was a little concerned with the girls and Dylan's weight gain. They wanted us to check back in a couple months to see if the babies were doing better. We went to our pediatrician last Thursday for a weight check for Brooklyn, Hailey and Dylan. Lucky Connor got to stay at home with Grandma Nancy.
Here's the new weights for them:
Brooklyn - 12 lbs, 15 ozs (our little peanut has been 12 lbs for so long it will be wonderful to see her reach 13 lbs.)
Hailey - 16 lbs, 11 ozs
Dylan - 17 lbs, 5 ozs
Connor - At last dr.'s appointment - 20 lbs, 5 ozs

The kiddos are moving around so much. Any day I expect to see Hailey take her first steps on her own. (With the rest not far behind, of course.) She walked yesterday holding just one of big sister Brittney's hands. They all love using the walking toys. Here's some pictures:

Hailey
Brooklyn

Dylan

Connor

They are so interested in each other lately. It amazes me how much they let their siblings do to themselves. Brooklyn and Hailey were sitting in my lap the other day after a nap. Then they started putting their fingers in each others mouths, poking cheeks and eyes, just talking away with each other. I see this quite often between all of them, as long as they are in a good mood. If not, all touchy feely goes right out the window.

Getting Out!!

We attended our first playgroup this past Thursday. My neighbor Kelly, has started a playgroup for her church and extended an invitation. So we packed the kiddos up and headed to the park. It turned out to be a very nice day. I took the camera along so as not to miss any cute pictures, and then in the bustle, forgot it in the car. We went on the swings, down the slides and rode the teeter-totter. I keep saying, "I can't wait until they can walk and run around" and then I remember how hard it is to keep track of them just crawling and think I better just sit back and enjoy this time before the races begin.

It was great to get away from the house and enjoy the blue skies. We are lucky to live in Southern California and able to get out even during the winter, but the warm weather was definitely a bonus. This was the only picture I got, after we got home, but as you can tell, the babies were happy to get some rest after a hard day of play.

Since the babies were about 4 months, they have had Early Intervention, Monday and Wednesday mornings. Audra, the crews teacher, comes for a couple hours and works with them on developmental skills. This last week, Audra was working with them on self-recognition. She put a sticker on their nose and had them look in a mirror to see if they would recognize themselves in the mirror and take the sticker off their nose.

Hailey

BrooklynDylanConnor

Well, they aren't quite there yet, but they were very interested in the stickers on everyone else's nose.

They were also working on hearing the "p" sound, as in pop the bubbles. Hailey really enjoyed the bubbles.

Catching Up!

Our NEW Limo!!

We're in the process of catching up on our blog and pictures. We're going to include a quick update with a few pictures and also a slideshow with a bunch of pics that we never had a chance to post! (See at the bottom of blog)The birthday video was not working, so it has now been fixed. This one is the full length video vs. the shorter version on YouTube.

Every time we blink it seems like months have passed us by.. The babies first birthday came and went in a flash and here we are a month and a half later just getting around to posting some more. Everyone is doing good! They all passed around a few different bugs for almost a month. We're glad to be past that! We finally broke down and bought a quad stroller so that Melissa would be able to take them for a walk by herself. Their little mouths are filling with teeth quick. Right now I think we are in between teething... for a day or so! They have been eating baby food now and it has been a challenge to get the girls to drink their bottles lately. The boys never have a problem.. except when the girls crawl over and take the bottles out of their mouth - just about every feeding. The boys had a little shock factor when it came to trying meat... but Hailey is immune, she eats anything! Brooklyn is in the middle.. but a real pain to bottle feed : )

Here's a few pictures of first bites of meat.. gotta love the expressions!!

Dylan was NOT happy!

We hope to keep up on the Blog and pictures, so feel free to keep checking back. We're in the process of finding a new camera since we wore this one out. It is finally on it's last leg. I think it has produced more blurry pictures than good ones lately.

Brian, Melissa, Brittney and the CREW - Connor, Brooklyn, Hailey, and Dylan