Believe it or not....

I am finally getting back to answering some of the questions you guys asked me back on my "Questions for the Quad Mom" post in May '08. I've been in a bit of a "blogging funk" lately and decided that it was time to share some things that are close to my heart.

How do you manage to keep it in perspective all the time? Do you ever get completely overwhelmed and if so, what do you do? When you fall into bed at night, do you ever want to cry if it has been a nutty day? Where do you get your energy? How do you look so together in pictures?

ATTITUDE. I believe it is all about my attitude. (And before I start my novel...I would just like you to know that I have NOT been like this my whole life--I have changed tremendously in the last 2 years) I have the power to CHOSE to be positive or negative--we all do. I chose the positive route. It is almost as easy as that! We keep things in perspective b/c we know life doesn't begin and end with the Steece Quads---our hearts are constantly out there with those who need prayers or who are struggling. We have four healthy babies, what can we complain about?

Of COURSE I get overwhelmed! Especially during the pregnancy and immediately following! I remember how it was VERY difficult to stay positive when I had not yet reached my 24th week of pregnancy--knowing that my four babies would have zero viability outside of the womb...that was rough. I cried for a full week one time--I could NOT shake those bad thoughts! But, then, I gave it all over to God and just forced negative thoughts out of my head. It is SOOOO very important to surround yourself with POSITIVE people!--and that's what I try to do on a daily basis.

Those first 4 months of the quads' lives was the hardest thing we have ever been through. (Just bringing ONE baby home is SO ridiculously difficult). Every once in a while we would have someone to help with the night feeds---other than that, it was me, Joe, and my mom. Church volunteers began taking day shifts when my mom left (around week 6 (?) of the quads being home). We were EXHAUSTED---mentally, physically, emotionally...POOPED! We fed the babies every 3 hours around the clock--by the time you get finished feeding all four, you have about 30-40 minutes before it starts all over again...and the spit up/reflux?...OMG....the reflux! COMPLETELY DRAINING. I was barely eating, sleeping, showering, brushing teeth, etc.

To keep things in perspective: Joe and I would cherish those few MINUTES when the babies were silent. I remember turning to each other occasionally and saying, "Do you hear that?.....ah.......nothing.....peace and quiet"--and it would last for MINUTES, but it was a beautiful sound. Joe and I would live for those quiet moments in bed, just cuddling before the next feed. We made time for each other and found joy in the tiniest of moments. It is all about attitude and making the choice to find those moments each day---because the day is FULL of them.


I must admit, the days of complete and utter exhaustion and being overwhelmed are few and far between nowadays...I guess you learn how to roll with it the longer you do something--and the positive attitude helps a lot. Someone once gave me some good advice: I try to start every day as a prayer--it begins in the morning, and I talk to God throughout the day, and ends at night-right as I'm falling asleep--each day is one long prayer.

Joe is another HUGE part of my sanity. Every day after a long day at work, he comes home, changes clothes and immediately goes upstairs to "relieve me of my duties": playtime, night bottles, diaper changes x 4, and bedtime. I go work out at the gym for an hour (my recent boost of energy lately), run errands, or make dinner. Needless to say, Joe is an amazing husband and father- love him SO much!
Family, friends, and church are major support systems in our lives. During quarantine, the Diaper Darlings are going to make weekly visits to play with the kiddies so I can run errands and what not. I also lean heavily on my other quad mama sistas! They have been such a blessing in my life and we can vent/laugh/cry/encourage/keep accountable/be silly with each other every day when we find brief seconds on the computer!


"Looking together in pictures" is all about attitude--for example, immediately after having quads, I was definitely NOT in the best shape of my life...but it felt good to take care of myself. I would put on a cute outfit and throw on a little powder to go see our babies in the NICU. I truly believe that what you are feeling on the inside is totally a reflection of how you look on the outside.


(And NO, to answer another question- I do NOT "look cute" and wear make-up and do my hair every day! OMG! On any given day, you will find me make-up-less with a T-shirt on, scrub pants, and my hair pulled back in a clip! In fact, when I first read this question back in May, I laughed outloud and immediately made Joe take of picture of what I looked like at that very moment!)

So gorgeous! Ha! This is my work attire--I am a FULL TIME MOM!--Ready to jump in and get those hands dirty! ;)


How do you balance making time for day-to-day fun and combat stress? How much time for yourself do you have? Do you ever just grab a cup of coffee with a girlfriend? Do you ever get "me" time by yourself? What is your favorite thing to do with it?

See above--Joe and I are a team. I let HIM go play with his boys, and he lets ME go play with my girls. I've just recently started working out and feel GREAT! I never used to get that "good-exhausted-every-muscle-hurts" type feeling when I used to work out--but I think it was all about the attitude thing. Now, I LOVE it! It is a chance for me to get out of the house and focus on being healthy. I want to be the best mom I can be and that starts with taking care of myself and my body...I plan on sticking around for a long time, haha! ;)

Yes, I occasionally get out with friends--in fact, I have a hot date tonight with my buddy, Liz (on the left)! We have the BEST friends who travel (usually from Dallas 30~45 minutes) to come see us and who come over for Saturday barbecues, etc. They know it is difficult for us to get out with 4 little ones...so many times, they just come to us! Great friends...



As far as "me" time...I've always preferred being around people--I'm very much a people person. However, it is funny how motherhood makes you view that "alone" time in a whole different light! It is the little things: like driving around in the burb, by myself, listening to music while running errands! The "Old Suz" (pre-quads) used to go out to eat with Joe/family/friends & go to movies all the time. Those are two of my most favorite things to do!



How do you get everything done like housework, yard work, cooking, etc? What does the rest of your house look like? Is it perfectly tidy? How do you avoid getting frustrated/defeated when you get behind on the "to-do's"?

Don't sweat the small stuff! When the kids are awake, I am playing with them. It is a great piece of advice that has been given to me time and time again. The dishes can wait, the cleaning can wait. Babies/children grow up so fast--really cherish every moment you have with them. So, that is what I try to do...every day. When the babies go down for their naps, that is when I do dishes, prepare food, tidy up, do laundry, etc. Also, it is not an every day thing---some days, I just lay around the house and do absolutely nothing---but the following day, I will have a "mad-cleaning-frenzy" of a day and will do 5 loads of laundry, scrub all the bathrooms, organize closets and pantries, etc! It is insane! What doesn't get done today, will get done tomorrow---so I'm not worried about it. I always make the bed...I dunno, its one of those things that "you know, the house may be a wreck...but if that bed is made, it makes it all better! ha!"...just a little quirk, I guess.

Once again, I have an amazing husband who has somewhat of a "cleaning obsession"--to put it mildly (my friends and family are laughing right about now). He actually enjoys cleaning---so, Joe is the MAIN reason our house is always tidy!



How do you deal with the crazy things people ask you in public? How do you stay positive and not let rudeness bug you. What are some tips on staying positive?

Hmm...I just always try to be gracious. I know that the majority of the time people don't INTEND to say things that might be taken as a rude comment. For example:

~ mumbling under their breath: "Better you than me!"
~ looking at the quads, shaking their heads and saying: "I feel sorry for you"
~ or just blatant laughing at me, while standing in a check-out line, paying for 100 tubs of baby food to last me a couple of days (pointing, snickering)
~ looking at the quads, laughing and saying: "NO THANKS!"

...stuff like that happens all the time. I just smile and say, "Yes, we are blessed!" A favorite motto to live by is: "You have been blessed, now go be a blessing"...and that's what I try to do.

We get rude blog comments all the time (attacking me, Joe, my family, my children) but I always skim over the comments before reading them word-by-word and delete them immediately when I can tell that they are negative. I don't even read the them! DELETE COMMENT- and move on. ;) I don't understand the people who take the time to read my blog, just so they can attack us (and my friends, for that matter).

We both just make a choice every day to be positive. Joe goes running in the mornings and uses that time to spend quiet-time with God, reflect on his blessings, and focus on positive things he wants for his life...what a great way to start the day! We have a certain joy that cannot be extinguished--God has blessed us beyond our dreams.

Happy Monday = Happy Quads

So, because I've been terrible at taking pictures lately, I thought I would capture some candid moments of our Monday morning play time.

Drew--the most laid back, sweetest little guy you could ever meet! Drew is RARELY in a bad mood (...however- just recently when we have left him in the church nursery or gym daycare--he FLIPS!)



Sweet little Sav, in command of the toy box



A rare moment where Ethan is actually smiling for the camera! (He usually runs away when I get out the camera, or just stares at it)



Mr. Hambone...look at those teeth---all I have to do is point the camera in his direction and he gets this HUGE grin on his face! Ben is currently trying to carve a sculpture out of his crib railing...with his little chicklit teeth! (Yes, we have invested in some "Gummi Rails"--which seem to be helping the situation somewhat)



Just good-timin' it on an early Monday morn....ah, the good life (Drew in stripes-always, Ethan standing)


Savi with her pink horsie from Auntie Lori...not quite sure how to go forward---but a pro at the baby-step-back-up. Oh, and Savannah hasn't quite figured how to sit down after she pulls herself to a standing position---so, many times, when I hear her crying from her crib, she is standing-holding onto the rails, and terrified of easing herself down to a sitting position...so sad, but so very funny at the same time! (We are working on it...)



Here we have Exhibit A: Ben's mid-morning fit for no reason----look at that mouth! SHEEEEESH!...(sad to admit that he has his momma's BIG mouth)



...and 1 minute later we have Exhibit B: Ben trying to hang upside down and look at me at the same time...everything is back to normal



Folks, I highly suggest you invest in a "Doggie Disposal System"...yes, that's right...Shiloh's favorite part of the day is when I let her through the gate, immediately following a tasty meal!



Shi loves to hang out with us during play time (she will soon start running for the door, I imagine...) I was able to catch each baby lovin on her this morning. Sav is actually trying to say "doggie" right now, but it sounds more like "dah-dah" (not to be confused with "dada"...hee hee)



This is Shi's "maternal look" (yes, I've seen it before...she tilts her head down and stares at the babes as if she were looking at her own pups). Ben petting Shi Shi


Drew actually leaned in for a little wet doggie nose kiss! He is by far the most gentle with Shiloh...SO CUTE!



Little Ethan and Shiloh. This is Shiloh's chair--or so she thinks--and Ethan loves to just pull up and stare at her...reaching his little hand out to feel her paws.



This is the time of the day that Ben thinks it is an absolute BLAST to throw a toy/toyS off of the second floor....


"Caught ya, buster!" (He will proceed to give you this face as he slowly edges it off the ledge--knowing FULL well what he is doing...............oh boy...)


...and finally, when you know it is getting close to nap time



"Ooooh Boo Bear....I KNOW....it is SOOOOO terrible!"
...my "ever-so-dramatic" son, Benjamin.


like clock-work...time to take a nap! Happy Monday!!!!

Quads at One Year

The babies are at such a GREAT age right now and are SO happy. I spend all my time playing with them and loving on them while they are awake...it is just so much fun!!! I know that the "two's" are just around the corner and that temper tantrums will start soon---so right now, I am just soaking as much in as I possibly can. I want to remember what the babies are doing at one year and how their 1-yr check ups went with the pediatrician a couple of weeks ago...so here it goes:

Andrew Paul Steece

20 lbs
29" long
4 teeth
(firstborn and shortest out of 3 brothers--like his father!)
Nicknames: Drew, Drewster, Drewster the Rooster, "A", A-train, Dwew

Drew is easily our happiest baby right now. SUCH a sweet baby boy. He is always the first one to smile and makes these little happy gurgle noises when he's perfectly content-playing with a toy. He is very easy going and laid back. Very much a cuddle bug, he is the first one to crawl over to you and climb up your legs. Drew is a LEFT HANDER (strong left hander)! Mr. ACTIVE still LOVES to be flipped upside down and bounced about--so much energy. He is still fascinated with lights and ceiling fans--loves being outside. Drew was the last of the boys to pull himself up, but now has the hang of it and is unstoppable. Drew is such a good eater and is learning the sippy cups pretty quickly. He rarely turns away any food that goes into his mouth! He loves pretty much every food.



Savannah Leigh Steece

17lbs 13 oz
27 1/4" long
no teeth (but as of now, she has 2 bottom teeth!)
Nicknames: Sav, Savi, Savannah Wee, Savi-wee-wee, Princess, Prindella, Prin-tey

Savannah has an infectious deep laugh and is speaking at a 15 month level already. She can "say" banana and constantly mimics my words. She is army crawling, but using her arms to pull up on everything (crazy strong arms)...we are getting ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) to work with her on strengthening those hips--she wore a pavlic harness for MONTHS when she was a baby and her hips are still pretty weak. Once known as "Miss Independent"--now known as: Miss "i-wanna-always-be-in-someones lap-or-being-held" (especially with mommy). Savi LOVES books and loves to sleep/nap. She laughs at her brothers all the time and lights up when she sees one of them enter the room. She is doing well with her sippy cup, but fights the majority of food that goes into her mouth. We can't tell if Sav is L or R handed...she usually eats with her left, but occasionally eats with her R. She LOVES bananas, fruit, yogurt, cheese, ice cream (yes, the sweet stuff!)



Ethan Joseph Steece

19 lbs 14 oz
29 3/4" long
6 teeth
(the tallest and the smallest boy)
Nicknames: "E", E-man, E-baby, the hulk

Ethan is wise beyond his years. He is like an adult trapped in a child's body. He looks right into your eyes like he knows exactly what you are saying. I am amazed at how quickly he learns new things- pulling up, walking while holding onto things, etc. Like Drew, Ethan is one of the first ones to crawl over to you and climb up your legs. He is fascinated with Shiloh and is always trying to pet her. Ethan loves books and is practicing his woodpecker skills on his crib as he is teething on the wood. Mr. PICKY--when it comes to his bottle. It HAS to be warm or he will NOT drink it whatsoever. Ethan is a strong RIGHT hander. He is getting better at those sippy cups and is great with food and picking things up with his fingers...he will eat just about anything as well. He likes popping blueberries with his front teeth and feeling the juice squirt out.



Benjamin Stephen Steece


20 lbs (not BIG BEN anymore--weighs the same as Drew)
29 1/2" long
6 teeth
Nicknames: Ben, Benny, Benny-Boo, Boo-Bear, Ben-HI-meen, Bensch, Boosh-lash, Boosh

Ben is like a cat. He USED to be all needy and wanting your undivided attention...but now that he can crawl--he is definitely Mr. INDEPENDENT! However, when he wants to be lovey-dovey, he completely melts into your arms. He is a mess--he likes to stand at the top of the stairs and make monkey noises "ooo-ooo-ooo" to get your attention. His favorite game is throwing toys off of the second floor and watching them hit the ground. Ben walked all the way across the room using one of those walking-toys. EVERY time you put him in his crib to take a nap or sleep, he will cry. (even if it is only for 30 seconds) He is quite the little 20 lb termite and has gnawed on his crib like you wouldn't believe--a trait his father did as a child. Ben is a performer and loves to flirt with a crowd--especially females. When Ben wants his bottle--he wants it NOW. If you try to put anything in his mouth that is NOT his bottle nipple (i.e. any sippy cup) he will throw a HUGE fit!..but is getting better. He will generally eat everything I feed him--but I have noticed that he likes MOM to feed him his food, instead of picking it up with his hands (we think Ben is RIGHT handed, but he uses both)...He LOVES being pampered and groomed--he will let me play with his hair or ears forever and does not mind when I'm wiping off his face.


Other notes of importance:

We started feeding them more "real food"---pureed ham, chicken, scrambled eggs, pancakes, cut up fruits and veggies. We started weaning them off of formula by gradually mixing it with whole milk and they have done GREAT with the transition...they are off of formula completely! WOO HOO! It won't be long before they can turn around in their carseats--another big WOO HOO!

The pedi warned of temper tantrums starting soon! YIKES! She said to completely ignore when they are throwing a temper tantrum--no positive or negative attention. That should be fun! ;) They do not weigh as much as she would like---an extra pound---so i will work on fattening them up! ;)

Developmentally, they are all where they are expected to be--except Savannah b/c she is not crawling on her hands and knees yet. We are set to meet with ECI next week.
Quarantine WILL start on OCTOBER 1ST! YUCKO...but even more important this year b/c the kiddos more than likely will not qualify for the Synagis shots.

Things that my pedi wants to see them doing by 15 months (which is NOVEMBER!)
WALKING
WAVING BYE BYE
TALKING 5 TO 7 WORDS
POINTING TO DIFFERENT BODY PARTS WHEN ASKED (NOSE, EARS, MOUTH, ETC)
MAKING ANIMAL NOISES WHEN POINTING TO A PICTURE

So, mama has been busy around here!...reading them LOTS of books!

Another side note: I had given myself ONE year to relax and just concentrate all efforts on surviving with quads. Well...the time has come to get back in gear---I recently joined a gym and will be trying to be better about staying healthy and losing the rest of my baby weight (10 pounds..at least!) It has been 2 full years since I have done anything remotely close to "fitness" so I've got lots of work to do! (BTW- Gen McNulty is my work-out buddy, inspiration and accountability partner from across the states) That woman is amazingly self-disciplined!

Last weekend, Joe had his big "Fantasy Football Draft" in Austin. (YAWN) So I packed up the kiddies and headed to Waco for the weekend. My parents anniversary was on Friday and my Mom's Birthday was yesterday--so we came to celebrate! We took the babies to a highschool football game on Friday night and out to eat at Texas Roadhouse on Saturday night which went really well! (They've been out to eat 4 times now and have exceeded my expectations so far...I'm sure things might change as they get older! Ha) Thanks dad, for sending the pics--I've gotten really bad about taking pictures lately...

Quads at Papa's bank


Getting in a quick book before bedtime


Good luvin' at church from the Halls and their grandkids (Savannah holding Savannah)


The Normans with Andrew and Ethan


Granna with Ben-HI-meen


Lauren with Ben, Me and Drew

Mealtimes with Savannah

Some of my favorite times of the day are mealtimes with the kiddies. (Yes!-they are a lot of work to prepare and execute) but I find that this is the time, every day, that the babies really interact with me and each other and show their own little individual personalities.

Savannah also hoards food in her mouth if she is tired and doesn't want to eat anymore. She looks like a little chipmunk--it cracks me up to no end. A couple of days ago, she had been storing food in her cheeks and I started to tap her chin to get her to mash up the food--she thought it was pretty funny so I grabbed the camera.



Joe and I were just talking about this, this past week. Savannah is quite the little character. I've told you about her laugh--it is just too great. She also does this face when she doesn't want anymore food--she squishes her nose and does her eyebrows in and breathes through her nose very loudly. If you antagonize her, she will do it even more. Savannah will make these silly noises and faces and will watch your reaction--trying to get you to laugh at her. If you start laughing at her (which happens 100% of the time) she will laugh herself and keep doing the face! Hmmm, who in the world could she get this from, JOE?

Diaper Darling Appreciation Celebration

Joe and I had only been living in the DFW area for several months when we found out we were expecting quads. We didn't know very many people at all and were terrified. North Davis (the church we had been visiting) accepted us with open arms and went over and beyond to help us prepare for/ and bring home quadruplet babies.

Lacy's parents & my parents are the best of friends...so I have spent my entire life growing up with Lacy and her fam in Waco. She is like the sister I never had and was the ONLY person I knew at North Davis (ND) when we moved here. Lacy is amazing and immediately began organizing help and support for us when we found out we were expecting quadruplets---truly an amazing woman with a heart of pure gold.

Me & Lacy


I remember laying in my hospital bed, big as a whale...tired, having a down day and the phone rings. I had never in my life met Linda (who attended church at ND) but here she was, calling me out of the blue- overflowing with excitement to help form a volunteer team for our quads when they get home. Yes, a sweet woman who -at the time- was a complete stranger, managed to organize an entire volunteer team (the "Diaper Darlings"--complete with applications and full background checks) to help care for our babies. PLEASE stop by her site and read about her involvement with: "Share the Care". Linda and her daughter, Marcie, have an amazing story and mean the world to me. Linda is one of the most self-less people I know with an intense passion for helping others.

Joe, Linda, me


The cakes Linda made for the party



Throughout my life, I have always been the type of person (type "A", if you will) who wanted to do things on my own. I was very stubborn, headstrong, and a perfectionist. (My parents and close friends are chuckling to themselves right about now) I had my life planned out for the next 30 years! And if my plan didn't work, I had a back-up plan A, B, C, & D. Funny how I just automatically thought that when we wanted to get pregnant, we would try- and BAM- it would happen. I have always struggled with "letting go" and "letting God". It finally took me being pregnant with quadruplets- confined to a hospital bed on strict bedrest to give it all over to God. I became a new person...much more humble, and learned how to accept the help that He was offering. I am SO glad that I listened because our lives have been tremendously blessed--beyond our wildest dreams--with the people God put-just in the right place, at just the right time. Funny how He always has a way of doing that...if you let Him.

Here are pictures from the Diaper Darling Appreciation Celebration and a few of our new, forever-friends. (Thank you for sending me these pictures dad, Linda and Tempe!)



Miss Ladelle lovin' on Andrew


Sweet Libby & Jim with Savannah


Joyce, Irene with Ethan, and Miss Shirley

Brenda reading with Benjamin


Sheila lovin' on Andrew


Joe, Grandpa & Grandma Steece


Liz and Chris with our little men ( Boo Bear, Drewster, and E-man)


Papa with Savannah


Jody, Ben, & Kaycee


Lacy reading a book with Ethan

Sue with Drew


The lady twins with Sav (Granna & Auntie Judy)


Peggy with Ethan, and Irene with Ben---lots of smiles & giggles!

Savannah going after Carolyn's necklace (always after jewelry)


Ladelle and Sue playing with Ben and his new toy

Tempe & Savannah (Again, watch your necklaces, earrings, and glasses! --all fair game when you are holding Sav!)

Linda with her "adopted" kiddos (Ethan, Benjamin, Andrew, & Savannah)


Joe and his little "mini-me"...every mom wants a little girl who looks just like them...but I must admit, I LOVE that Sav is the spittin image of her daddy...too stinkin' cute!


The kiddies opening some presents...


It was such a wonderful day, filled with laughter and smiles...one that I will never forget. I can't say it enough: Diaper Darlings, THANK YOU for being such a blessing to our family--and thanks to those who are not pictured--you know who you are! We love you and pray that God will continue to bless each and every one of you in ways that you could not even begin to imagine.