My kids

I am having the worst time documenting my 2nd set of twins - the first set, I have this huge journal full of all their chronicled cuteness. My 2nd set is no less cute, but my energy/emotional level is greatly depleted and days go by and no meaningful writings about them.

Maybe my blog could be used to do this more - typing is more fun than long-hand and I migrate to the internet like an addict as it is - Facebook, I have you to thank for that!

So - it is now 9:00 pm and after a long day with my 4 dear ones - ages 5 and 2 - all are in bed. I just left my youngest girl who called me back into her room in that precious pre-verbal gibberish that I am just beginning to decipher - she said "teeth" and pointed to her mouth. Do your teeth hurt? She just wanted to be picked up and held. I sat in a chair in the dark and savored the clinging onto me by my youngest who's babyhood is swiftly passing. I thought - the adult world can wait just a little longer - I'm going to soak this up! She held on tight and drifted into sleep. I laid her back down in her pak and play which is in the dining room since we have found the best way to get 4 pre-schoolers to sleep is to put them in separate spaces.

Therefore, oldest boy sleeps in one (or both) of 2 twin beds in his room - oldest girl is put to bed in the master bedroom - younger boy is in the 3rd (and final) bedroom in one of 2 twin beds in there - thus the youngest in the dining room. Oldest girl gets taken into shared room with oldest boy when parents are ready to turn in - then she usually makes her way back to our room in the middle of the night. I have found that if I sack out on the sofa in the downstairs family room and sleep there all night, it kind of feels like I am on a getaway by myself, so I do that occasionally. Usually in the same clothes I wore all day previously, so when I wake up, I
am already dressed!

Anyway - the 2nd set of twins - B. is so funny! Has already a wonderful sense of music and pitch - a beautiful singing voice! At bedtime he asks for a song I have been singing to my kids since day one - "Always" - and he often gets a mischievous smile on his face and starts singing along in a growly, Jimmy Durante voice. Where he got that schtick, I have no idea! I think kids bring these little fun creative personalities with them down from heaven!

A.J. , B.'s twin sis is love personified - a receiver and giver. Tonight before the "teeth" call-back, I was putting her to bed and she often starts reciting the names of everyone in the family. Tonight, she added some extended family, continuing to talk and name names, although mostly only the vowels were coherent. It is always a triumph when she is trying to communicate something and I guess it correctly! She will smile brightly and say a staccato "Yeah!" I mentioned a relative's nickname and she then said that relative's spouse's nickname - you never think these little ones are paying attention, but I think they don't miss a trick!

S., my oldest boy, is so bright and sharp despite the fact that he has been educationally diagnosed with autism. His autism limits him mostly in the speech and social spectrum, but everyday I feel like I see him develop more and more and, very much like the little ones, one just has to take a moment to find out what it is he is trying to say. He receives in-home services at the moment that are a true God-send through the public school system here and I am learning so much about how to patiently take the time to persevere through the rough spots with S. - his restlessness, wanting to do activities that with 3 other kids to think about, I cannot let him do such as go outside by himself. At this point he will, "Runn oft" to quote "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" - Hey! That's a perfect reference - because that is where we would be with S. - "O S., where art thou" if I didn't confine him indoors when all he wants to do is breakout. He's our big flight risk is the family although there are moments when I might come in a close second if it weren't for my saint of a husband. Heck, even still I understand why Marie Osmond cut and run that time a while back.

Little Miss F., S.'s twin is going to run, too, someday - except that she is going to run SOMETHING. A definite born leader and no trace of that people-pleasing thing I have carried and battled my whole life - thank God - although as a mother, it wouldn't hurt me any if she turned on just a little people-pleasing with me! But she is a love and very thoughtful, a deep thinker who makes connections and asks questions way beyond her years. She is a delight and keeps me thinking how I can keep one step ahead of her. A common conversation:

F: Mom, you forgot to ______; you said you were going to ______; you haven't done _____
Me: F, I will not be ordered around by a child - who is the boss?
F: You are (said with sad resignation)
Me: That's right, and I will ALWAYS know more than you.
F: But ________
Me: The answer is "Yes, Ma'am"
F: Yes, Ma'am!

Wow! I have my work cut out.

Okay - I'm going to go turn on the Food Network and watch my favorite "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" showcasing the best in bad-for-you eat-out food - it's so fun to watch people cook and eat this food and talk about it. Almost as good as eating it oneself.

Ta Ta for now - who knows when I'll get the urge to blog again -- Blessings to all and to all a good night!