Sewing Sunday

One of my favorite blogs to read is  The Great Umbrella Heist.  I discovered it when I was pregnant with the quads and have enjoyed reading it every day since.  One thing I always love to see is all the cute skirts and dresses that she makes for her girls so when she posted this and this I was thrilled to give it a try!

The kids and I made a trip to the store and Aubrey picked out her favorite pattern and then material to go with it.  The boys kept asking what I was going to make them so I let them each pick their favorite pattern to turn into pillows.

I was a little nervous to attempt the skirt so I started with the pillows for the boys because I knew they would be a snap.  I sewed them and the kids had a blast stuffing them.  When those were all done I had no other option than to get going on Aubrey's skirt and it actually came out better than I expected!

Frosty the Snowman

The last time the kids made a snowman they...well, mostly Brady...were a little upset that we did not have the correct items needed to make Frosty.  This time around I made sure we did and they got to build a snowman with the kids from daycare.



Cam and his girlfriend...girl Kam

March of Dimes walk 2013!

As sad as it is I am sure if every single one of you think about it someone in your family or in your group of friends has been affected by having a baby born too soon.  Some people are very fortunate to have happy outcomes while others will forever have a space in their heart that will never be filled.  Because of this, Ben, the quads and I have all committed to walking in the March of Dimes walk in Lebanon, NH on May 11, 2013.

Our story had a happy ending due to all the research and advances that were made possible by the March of Dimes foundation.  The mission of March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.  Our quadruplets were born at 32 weeks gestation and had a very short journey in the NICU before coming home and growing into the healthy, active three-year olds that they are now.  Unfortunately two other families who are very good friends of mine did not have the same outcome.  I asked them both to share their stories with all of you...

Kristy's Story:

After 5 long years of trying to get pregnant, the miracle had FINALLY happened!  By In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), I became pregnant with my precious twin girls! It was a dream come true!  I was beginning to think I would never be a mother.  The day I heard the words "You are PREGNANT" was the best day of my life!

Sadly, my beautiful baby girls were born too soon...at just 23 weeks 5 days, they were too early to survive here on Earth.  My life changed drastically on October 13, 2012...Aryelle and Kendall's birthday.  My heart shattered on October 15, 2012...the day they passed away due to extreme prematurity.

They will always be my babies and they will never, ever be forgotten!

Melanie's Story:

After over 3 years of infertility due to PCOS and a lifetime of dreaming of being parents, we were blessed to find out we were expecting twin boys in April 2012. It was a rough go after suffering from ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and gestational diabetes, but we were oh so happy. Our world was turned upside down when our boys were born 16 weeks too soon on September 3, 2012 at 24 3/7 weeks old to save my life.

Andrew fought for us for 3 days, but he was far too premature and passed away September 6. Samuel was feisty but lost his battle to live on September 25 due to NEC and pneumonia. Our world changed the day we found out we were going to be parents, even more when we found out we were having twins, and got completely torn apart when we lost them both. Not a day goes by we don't love and miss them. They will always be our sons, our angels.

I have decided to live my life to the fullest, to honor my sons' memories, and to cherish my family and friends. I am determined to raise awareness about PCOS, HELLP, and prematurity. Their names, their lives, will never be forgotten.

Our family has chosen to join Kristy and Melanie's team...Four-Ever Remembered...in honor of Aryelle, Kendall, Samuel and Andrew.  We are asking for your help!  There are three ways you can help us out...

1. Go to Kari's Page or Ben's Page and give a donation...there is no donation too small!

2. Go to the Four-Ever Remembered Team Page and sign up to walk with us!  

3. Go to my Scentsy  page or my Velata page or Melanie's Grace Adele and click Mystery Hostess and make a purchase!  All of my    commission goes to the March of Dimes and you have a chance to win some stuff free!

Thank you in advance for your support on a cause that is very near and dear to our hearts!

41 Months!!!!

In honor of their 41st month I "interviewed" each of them so we could look back years from now to see how they have changed!

Matthew Lucas Hickey


Likes to be called: Matt
Most prized possession: baseball hat and his sneakers
Favorite food: applesauce, Chinese ribs, strawberries
Favorite drink: milk and Capri Sun Waters
Favorite treat: brownies and muffins
Favorite color: yellow and black
Favorite toy: my ball and race cars
Best friends: Tanner, Chase, Conner and Casey
Favorite TV show: Mickey Mouse Club House
Favorite movie: Over the Hedge
Favorite book: all the Cars books
Favorite thing to do: play with cars, race my scooter
Favorite place to go: Disney World, Disney on Ice
Favorite game: Doggie Doo Doo
Favorite song: Starships

Brady Benjamin Hickey


Likes to be called:  B
Most prized possession: my doggies- Max, Bella, Daisy and Brittney
Favorite food: chop suey, garlic bread and watermelon
Favorite drink: milk

Favorite treat: chocolate fudge
Favorite color: blue and green
Favorite toy: pixie dust and Jake sword
Best friends: Matt, Cam, Aubrey, Mylee, Makalyn, Sawyer and Kamryn
Favorite TV show: Jake
Favorite movie: Tangled
Favorite book: Where is Spot
Favorite thing to do: school work, play with my computer
Favorite place to go: Disney World, Chuck E Cheese
Favorite game: Chutes and Ladders
Favorite song: Call Me Maybe


Aubrey Elizabeth Hickey


Likes to be called:  by any of the Princess names
Most prized possession: my snuggies and my blanket
Favorite food: Shephard's Pie, Chop Suey, Mac and Cheese, Strawberries and Grapes

Favorite drink: Capri Sun Waters
Favorite treat: brownies
Favorite color: pink and purple
Favorite toy: Princesses and the castle
Best friends: Cameron, Delainey, Mylee, Makalyn, Kamryn and Emma
Favorite TV show: Sofia the First
Favorite movie: Cinderella
Favorite book: Princess ones
Favorite thing to do: Dress like a Princess
Favorite place to go: Disney World, Chuck E Cheese
Favorite game: Candy Land
Favorite song: At Last I've Seen the Light


Cameron Jacob Hickey


Likes to be called: Cam
Most prized possession: Pillow
Favorite food: strawberries, green beans, cantaloupe and grapes

Favorite drink: blueberry juice, strawberry juice
Favorite treat: orange fudge
Favorite color: all the colors
Favorite toy: Jake sword
Best friends: Aubrey, Tanner, Chase and Kamryn
Favorite TV show: Chuggington
Favorite movie: Lion King
Favorite book: all the Cars books
Favorite thing to do: play the kindle, race my scooter
Favorite place to go: Disney World, Chuck E Cheese
Favorite game: Memory
Favorite song: Lazy Song

Happy Valentine's Day 2013

So excited to get a little gift first thing this morning!










One of our very favorite Mommy of Multiples, Karen made us these special shirts.  When I saw them I knew I had to have them for the quads.  We always say "I love you to the moon and back" to each other and they were pretty psyched to get them in their favorite color.  Thanks again First Firefly for another great creation!

Going to the ball!

Aubrey has been looking forward to the Father/Daughter dance...aka "the ball" for weeks.  Typically the boys go with Daddy and Aubrey goes with Mommy so this was a treat all around.  Of course Princess Aubrey had the perfect dress and almost wore all her dress up jewelry and her crown but I talked her into toning it down a little!



Hamming it up!








All set to go with her Prince Dad!


Sooooo excited!


The throne of the ball!


She obviously thought this "stage" was set up as her personal photoshoot!
















Playing with the girls!
\



Dancing with her Prince!










I love that she took her little bow before spinning with the Prince!  Such a Princess!

Writing out Valentine's

It is bittersweet to see the kids writing their initial on the Valentine's they want to give to their friends at the party next week.  It is sad that they are big enough to be doing this but it is great that they are able to!  They all really try hard and are doing a great job learning to write their letters!

"B"


"M"


"C"


"A"

First break :(

While I was gone to Scentsy Spring Sprint in Maine I got a text saying Cameron was being very naughty and using his teeth as a weapon so Auntie Kate went to put him in time out and he was fighting her on it, biting her and he fell out of her arms and now would not stand or put weight on his foot.  A couple hours later Ben brought him to the ER and they thought it was just a sprain so they put it in a splint and gave him an appointment to  see the orthopedic surgeon the next morning.  He was telling everyone who would listen to him "Kate dropped me!" and failed to tell the part of the story that included him being a naughty boy.

All night Ben tried to convince him to try walking on it but he kept informing him "That isn't a very good idea!" He is a toughie though because he didn't complain very much!

Cameron was insistent that I was the one to bring him to the doctors.  I didn't know all the details so we relied on Cameron to fill in the blanks and he did a pretty good job talking to the doctor.  When we got there the doctor had looked at the Xrays and found a hairline fracture in one of the growth plates and had to cast him for two weeks then he goes back to get it changed for another 2 weeks.  He was psyched that he got to choose his favorite color!

For now I am lugging him from place to place and trying to find things for him to do sitting down but the doctor said that he can start putting some weight on it within the next day or two since it has a cast on it.  

1198 days...

1198 days is the number of days between the last day one of our kids spent in the NICU until the day when one had to be admitted for an overnight.  For the past week or two the kids at daycare have been passing viruses back and forth.  The boys all had the cough, runny nose and irritability the beginning of last week then Thursday night Aubrey started feeling yucky.  Come Friday morning she was totally miserable and started with a fever so Ben hung out with her watching Princess movies and trying to get her to eat and drink.  By 5pm she couldn't even lift her head up and hadn't urinated in hours so a trip to the ER was in order for the little lady.

When we got there they saw how sick she was and immediately swabbed her for RSV and the flu...both of which came back negative.  Next came a chest x-ray then five pricks before getting an IV in her to give her fluids and take some blood work.  After some fluid they were able to get a urine sample and all her tests came back negative and leading them in the direction of dehydration.  So we checked in for the night so she could get fluids throughout the night.  

Aubrey was NOT a happy girl!  She kept yelling at the nurses "I WANT TO GO HOME!!!"  Finally when morning came and neither of us had much sleep she told the nurse on duty "I need to go home.  I have a Disney on Ice show to get to!"  So the doctor let her go with the understanding that she needed to DRINK!  

We made it to the Disney on Ice show and even though through the first act she didn't have much spunk she perked up by the second act when the Princesses all made an appearance.  The next day she was back to her normal self and you would never have even known she was sick.  

Playing games

For Christmas the kids got a ton of games from different people so we have been doing game night at least once a week and trying to teach the different games, taking turns, using patience and of course how to be a good sport...not that that always happens...especially with one of them!

Playing the Doggie Doo Doo game from Uncle Kyle and the kids.








Chutes and Ladders from Auntie Jade.


The Monkey in the Tree game from Madisyn and Makenna.




Mr Poor-Sport!