Thursday, January 10, 2008

Cruisin' Solo

It has been a week since Chris has been back to work and I have been solo at home with the four little munchkins. So far we're all still alive and doing well! Really, it has not been so bad. I am still feeding them on a 3 hour schedule, so as of now I wake them up every 3 hours, feed all four at once (which usually takes 40 minutes or so) then we play for another 50 minutes and then they go back to bed for naps. We have started giving Sophia, Cohen and Finn oatmeal once a day. Noah can't have it yet so he watches us in his Johnny Jump Up.

Sophia - In Her Oatmeal Couture

Noah In His Jump-Up

The hardest part is keeping them all entertained during playtime and dealing with what seems to be jealousy issues. The poor kiddos are starting to notice if I'm holding one of their sibs and not them. This leads to crying - which makes you want to jump to the rescue. But then, you are just reinforcing that crying equals attention and that's not something I want to have stuck in their heads. So for now, I'm trying to put everyone in different stations and then grab each of them on the sly, taking them out of sight of the others for one on one time so as to cut down on the jealous tears. Pretty soon they'll catch on that I'm still in the house somewhere and start to cry to find me, I'm sure.

Cohen - My Best Little Spoon Eater of the Bunch


Finn - Not Much Into Eating With A Spoon


Getting out of the house with just me and the babies is almost impossible. I can't go to the store with them, simply due to logistics. I was trying to think about it the other day. If I were to get the massive round-about quad stroller so I could get them around the store - how in the world would I get them safely to and from the car? It takes half a dozen minutes of fumbling around with those darn car seat belts just to get them out of there - which is fine for baby number one who would be waiting patiently in the massive stroller. But by the time you get baby number two out of the car, baby number one may have been kidnapped or worse yet, hit by passing driver who was busy on their cell phone and filing their receipt in their purse. The scenario has passed through my mind too many times - it just seems unattainable. I did figure out how to take all four of them on a walk so we can at least get some fresh air. We bought these stroller connectors for our umbrella strollers. I have 3 strollers connected and then I carry one baby in the Baby Bjorn. It's pretty nifty. I still have some logistic problems. The stroller is so wide it won't wheel up close to our door so I angle it facing our front walk. I then line all of the babies up on the carpet just inside the front door. Next, it's a mad relay race to get the babies loaded and pray that nothing happens to them while I'm racing back to get the next one. A mother's mind never stops worrying, right?

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mari,
Had the opportunity to talk with Chris and catch up a little. So good to read first hand what you are up to each day, and of course see the new pics. Have been praying for you daily and am glad to hear that your first week on your own has gone well. I continue to be amazed at all you do.
"Be strong and of good courage for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
In Christ's love,
Alaine

Anonymous said...

Hi Mari..........YOU SO GOT THIS!
Dont worry, it sounds like you are doing great, it may not feel that way sometimes, but you are amazing, just remember ..God nerver gives us more than we can handle.

Talk to you soon

Karen

Anonymous said...

Way to go mom Mari - going solo and doing so well. Be sure to pat yourself on the back. I can just picture the babies all lined up just inside the front door....it is little things like this that end up being the biggest best memories. Keep up the great mothering.

Anonymous said...

Mari, don't forget to call!! I am right around the corner and would LOVE to help anytime!! I would REALLY LOVE to have someone get me up and walking too!!

Triplets and a Surprise said...

When I take mine to the store, I always park by one of the cart holders so that no one can get on that side of us. I found that this reduces the number of people that can come close to us because I definitely worried about someone taking one while I get the others out. It's all trial and error and it sounds like your doing great!

Anonymous said...

Way to go, Mari! I'd come visit, but the boys and I have been battling strep since Christmas. :( When we're 100% germ-free, we'll come over for play time (and bring chocolate for you!). I'll call you....
Love,
Kara

Anonymous said...

Your soo cute !!! You are doing a great job. I am always excited to see the babies new pictures. Keep up the good work, I know their smiles and responses are such a reward for you.

Anonymous said...

You have done such a great job! I was running around like that with one and you are doing it with four, you should be so proud of yourself!! Ya'll are such an inspiration. Be good to eachother :)
Love ya, Tina

Anonymous said...

Hi Mari,

Congrats on surviving the first week alone! Once you do that, you feel like you can take on anything. I don't know if you have a garage or not, but when I took mine for a walk, I'd wheel the stroller in there and put the door down to unload them. At least you knew that no one could kidnap them. Now, as far as them bonking one another on the head until you got back...

Anonymous said...

Glad to see that you are doing so well with all the little ones! They are all growing up so fast!

Anonymous said...

How awesome Mari! Noah is looking great! Kaye Larberg

Malena said...

Your children are sooo beautiful! Wow!

Whitney said...

Very impressed that you are doing so well solo! My husband is going to be out of town next week and my mom is coming. I'm not as brave as you and I only have 3!

PS: I have a Finn too!

Whitney