A Day to Remember

7 Months Old

....and looking back to 1 Day Old

Virginia
Jane

Broox

Rainer

Today the quads turned 7 months old. This is quite a milestone for us! Not only because of the birthday, but because this is the anniversary of the day that we found out about our four and saw them on an ultrasound screen for the first time. I cannot believe that a whole year has passed since that life altering doctor's visit. What was once just a bewildering idea is now our life and we are so happy in it. I never could have imagined then, just how special they would be and how much joy Broox, Jane, Virginia and Rainer would bring to Gray and me. I love each of them more than I could ever say. Happy 7 months!

I tried to take their picture this morning for documentation but they just weren't in the photo shoot mood. They do best with a group of "clowns" behind me when we do it. Today it was just me and they weren't amused with anything I was doing. I may have gotten one good one, but I thought I would also add a few of the bad so you can get an idea about what its like to get a picture of four seven month olds.

It's tough being a quad.

Not interested.

Look at me! Look at me!

BORED Boys will be Boys.

Blog Design

I wanted to send out a belated thank you to my cousin Jim Schaeffer for designing my new blog page. He is extremely creative and has done all of the work for me. I have received many compliments on the new look. My blog is so much more appealing now and I can't thank you enough Jim. Jim and his partner do Web and Print design and their business is called Flowso Studio. You can find them at flowso.com. Check them out!

Closing in on 7 Months

Next week, the quads turn seven months old. I wanted to share some of the things we have been up to this month, new tricks the babies are doing, and the ways that we are changing to accommodate their new skills.

More and more I am noticing the babies wanting to get up and go. They seem to be getting frustrated that they still have very limited mobility. Playing on the floor is getting dull, so they keep me constantly moving as I pick up and put down babies here and there. While they enjoy playing by themselves and exploring new things for a while, they are demanding one on one time with Mama more than ever. They are beginning to notice me with another baby. I so wish there were more of me to go around. I am looking forward to the day when they can at least sit up on their own. I can tell that they enjoy that view of the world much better, and anytime I put them in a boppy or chair they strain to sit up. I think they are very close, but they can only do it for a short while on their own before they tip over, back or to the side. They also enjoy standing on the floor or in your lap whenever possible. Rainer especially enjoys this and will often refuse to bend at the knees and sit.

I think that the coming month ,just as the sixth, is going to be full of growth for the Virginia, Rainer, Jane and Broox.

This is our new quad table!!! We absolutely love it. Papa and our friend Mr. Raymond custom built the table for the quads. This allows Gray and me to both sit at the table and each take two babies to feed. It takes up so much less room than four high chairs and we are able to feed them all at one time. I love how their little legs dangle!

Rainer, Jane, Broox and Virginia happy to be in their fancy new table.



Now that the babies have some control over their bottles, I am propping them up. This way I can feed everyone at the same time. I had to stop feeding them on the couch by myself, because they kept trying to roll off.

10 o'clock feeding today.
The babies have been enjoying game days in their Bama duds. Roll Tide!

The exersaucer has been a hit this month.

I received these cute hats before the babies were born and we decided to play dress up with them a few mornings ago. I think the babies got a kick out of them. Here is Rainer in a frog hat.

Broox as a puppy.

Virginia

Hahaha. What a face!

Jane's hat is a little big.

Honey bunny

This is the day his teeth came through and he kept his fingers in his mouth all day.

I thought these pictures on the changing tables were really cute, but unfortunately turned out dark. You can see them better if you double click on the pictures. Look at Rainer's hands in this picture. He loves to put his hands together like that all the time. It cracks me up. We like to say that he's praying for his Mama and Daddy.

Broox

Jane

Virginia

Broox is getting pretty good at holding his bottle. You have to be sitting right by him to help get the bottle back in when he drops it, but I'm trying to let him practice as much as possible. He also doesn't like to do it if he is sleepy. I think he has picked it up first because of his big hands, and because he is so good at grabbing and picking up objects. Bottle holding is going to be so much help to me.

Virginia enjoying the new jack-in-the-box.

We have not really used the Bumbo chairs until now. We decided to pull out the little trays the other day and attach them to the Bumbos with piles of toys on them. I'm glad that we did because the babies will tolerate sitting in them more now. Notice Rainer has his hands folded again.

Virginia in her doorway bouncer. She is probably the best jumper so far. Her tiny feet look precious dancing around and she is so proud of herself when she gets it moving.

Here we are outside of the Newborn Follow-Up Clinic. This clinic follows the development of premature babies during their first three years. This was our first visit and the physical therapist, pediatrician, and nutritionist were amazed at the progress the quads have made. They used to visit the babies in the hospital when they were 2 and 3 pounds and couldn't believe how much they had grown. All of the babies are in the 90th percentile for their adjusted age for development and size. Even when looking at those areas as six month olds, they are still all in the normal range.

Here are their new weights.
Broox: 18 pounds, 7 ounces
Jane: 12 pounds, 9 ounces
Virginia: 12 pounds, 12 ounces

Rainer: 15 pounds, 8 ounces

When we rolled into the clinic, they knew all of the babies names. The appointment started with pictures of each baby. We had the whole clinic to ourselves, and enjoyed the visit. What mother doesn't love to hear how well her babies are doing?

Here is Rainer standing on my lap. Rainer has both bottom teeth and you can just barely see them in this picture. He was the first to have a tooth pop through, then Jane, and yesterday Broox joined the club! I'm sure Virginia's will break through soon. She is chewing on everything.

Jane posing for the camera.

Counting the fish on her dress.

Virginia in polka dots.

Broox hanging out.

Rainer enjoying the last days of his first summer.

Zoo Trip!

Last week, Jane and I were both sick. She was running fever and had a bad cough and runny nose. It was difficult to keep all of the things she touched and put in her mouth away from the other babies. I was also having a hard time entertaining the three well babies, while comforting the sick one. Thankfully, I was able to recruit some great help from my parents. They made their way to Birmingham on Thursday afternoon and were here for the weekend to lend us a helping hand. Jane started feeling better on Friday and we decided to take the babies on their first trip to the zoo.

We're here! Strapped in and ready to go in their sunhats.
Here is Pal with the stroller about to enter the zoo. The lady and children to the right were just the first of the many people we met that day. The Garrett Quads and their stroller cause quite a stir in public.

It may be a few more months before the babies get into the animals. The zoo provided a great place to stroll if nothing else. Most of all I enjoyed getting out of the house. It was a beautiful day!

Three babies asleep by the time we made it to the giraffes.

Jane was the only one still awake so I took her out to get a better view of the animals. She was definitely interested in these strange creatures.

Stopping traffic at the zoo. The children were the most amazed and asked lots of questions.

Jane loved the carousel.

.....but had a fit when it was over!

Taking a pit stop at the zoo cafe.

Virginia checking out the crowd.

Jane feeling better.

Rainer is still sleeping.

"I'm awake!" "Petting zoo anyone??"

Broox and the geese.

I'm glad that the babies were able to experience so many new things on Friday. Honey and Pal got the quads a membership to the zoo, so we'll be able to visit lots this year. You definitely have to have two or three people to go, but it was well worth it. I can't wait to go back!