March for Babies

As you may have notice there is a new item in the right hand column. Some of you may have received an email from me regarding March for Babies. For all the visitors that have not heard yet, I have decided to participate in the March for Babies that the March of Dimes organizes. I am participating in the walk at the end of April. As long as the weather cooperates, the kids and Jeremy will be joining me. The walk is to help raise money for the March of Dimes, whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. As you all know, our kiddos were born at 30 weeks gestation. I feel this organization is near and dear to our hearts.
I know and understand that today’s economy is not great. We are all feeling the effects of these tough times. I ask do what you can. We will walk no matter how much or how little we raise. It would feel great to meet my goal/the team’s goal and to know that we are helping other babies that enter the world too soon.
Here are three ways you can help me:
1) Sponsor me for the walk
2) Join me on the walk – I have made a team up in honor of the kids.
3) Spread the word to people you know
Click on this link or the item in the column to help me reach my goal or to join the team:
http://www.marchforbabies.org/personal_page.asp?w=141011987&u=Nerfer
Click on this link to view the team page:
http://www.marchforbabies.org/s_team_page.asp?SeId=631059&si=
I would like to thank all of you for reading this and helping me. Now let’s hope for good weather!
Thanks again,
Jen

Christmas is FINALLY over!

We had our final 2 Christmas related events this weekend. I must say I am glad Chirstmas is finally over in the Lenzendorf household...seemed like it dragged on forever!
The first event was Jeremy's work Christmas Party (oops, I am sure I am suppose to call it a holiday party to be PC...oh well). Our babysitters for the night were grandma and grandpa. Grandpa distracted the kids so there were no tears when we left...in fact mom later told me they did not notice we were gone for quite awhile. Mom also used my camera to catch some great moment of the kids with grandpa playing blocks. I love the pictures as it reminds me of being little and playing with him. Here are just a few...
Grandpa explaining what needs to be done...

Alex admiring his work...

Team work is what it is about...notice the "supervisor"

Zach clarifying the instructions

Grandpa giving a helping hand...

Wow grandpa is pretty awesome...look at the tower he built!!!

Grandpa after a night with the kids...

We had a good night out and stayed out longer than we expected. Once we arrived home, we found out grandma was not having a good night. With the kids being sick they are a little out of sorts. We found grandma upstairs in the hallway on probably one of the most uncomfortable chairs we own rocking Zach and Liz. Apparently by the time we got home she had been at it for over an hour. I felt awful! Jeremy took her home while I took over trying to settle the kids back in...no such luck. Saturday night was probably the roughest night we have had in a VERY LONG time. But we made it thru and were ready for our second event Sunday morning.

We hosted Christmas for the Lenzendorfs. It had been scheduled, reschedule and rescheduled...third time has to be the charm! There were some gifts already opened prior to Sunday so it was just a quick get together to watch all the kids open some their gifts. Sunday morning Papa, Nana, Brent, Jeanne and girls made the trek across the state. They got here a couple hours before the kids nap time so after a little bit of playing we got to opening the presents.

As you can see Roxy found a perfect patch of sun and cuddled into the stack of chairs. She did not move much from that spot as she does most days...the dog LOVES sunbathing!

Just as with the Turner Christmas, Aunt Jeanne's gifts rocked! It is hard to say for certain which was the best, but they have been playing with them since. They got a vacuum which is getting a workout (hmmm...to bad it does not actually pick up stuff...that could be a time saver for me...lol). We have read the new Elmo books many times already. The boys are pretty good at playing their harmonicas. I took a bunch of pictures (like that's a surprise) so here are just a few.

Alex is saying "Elmo" in this picture...can you figure out what it is...

...it is Elmo Live! Here the boys introduce themselves to him...and I guess it does look like they may be positioning themselves for a tug-of-war contest...

Liz like Elmo's nose...honk, honk...

The kids also got a special gift...Great Grandma Dorothy had her Christmas shopping done prior to her passing away...they each got a very fuzzy, warm pair of jammies. Here is Liz opening hers...

and the boys opening theirs. Something so simple, but means SO much!

The kids were once again very concerned about the wrapping paper getting picked up and put in the right place. Here Liz and Zach help Nana put it where it needs to be...the garbage.

Unfortunately, Zach and Liz were not up from their nap yet when everyone left. Alex got to say goodbye on their behalf. After the kids ate lunch it was back to playing. Elmo was a big attraction (ah, their birthdya is going to be so much fun!). He Liz is putting him on the table...

Alex showing his blocks to Elmo...

and Zach trying to hold Elmo's mouth shut...go figure!

Here Liz is trying out the new vacuum. She had to wait until Zach was done...he is my clean freak...

yup, seems to work nicely...

did you know that you can ride the vacuum?!?!?

Apparently it is the newest way to clean.

So that was our weekend. We are still fighting colds. Alex is almost all the way better. Unfotunately we think Liz and Zach caught another cold just as they stqarted getting better from the last one, so they have had a rough few days/nights. We do not think it is anything but a cold, just seems to have hit them hard. The last week has been hard for everyone. Our naps are anything but normal. Most mornings we were upstairs prior to nap time. Here is what I saw most mornings after breakfast but before nap time...

Wanted to include this picture from right before bath time on Friday night. On bath nights after supper, the kids get their teeth brushed and stripped down to diapers. They then climb the stair and make a dash to the bathroom. Friday night I got them stripped down but needed to get stuff ready (like get jammies out and get their lovies) so they had some extra "run" time. As I was picking up their lovies Jeremy calls to me from the dining room telling me to get the camera. Here the kids had sat down nicely on the bench...full bellies, full diapers and ready for a bath...they are too cute!

Hope you enjoyed the pictures and reading about our happenings. We are hoping for a much better week this week. Hope you all have a great week.

Love, Jen

23 months, Christmas and Croup

Ok so I am few days late with the weekly update, but I do have a good excuse...3 sick, clingy, moody children. My to-do lists is not getting any shorter...lol!

Let see what has happened in the last week...not a whole lot early in the week. It was so darn cold couldn't do much. Tuesday night I got out to have dinner with a friend and daddy got some alone time with the kids. They also went to playgroup again Tuesday morning. Zach found a little girl, Olivia, that he followed around for the whole time. She is 2 1/2, so an older gal...lol! This time they did participate in craft and snack this time and did ok. Like I said temperatures were awful so taking them out was not really an option so we were homebound for the rest of the week.

The end of the week and weekend seem to be more exciting. The kids turned 23 months old on Friday, so only a month away from the big 2! They are all working on getting the rest of their teeth...Liz has 15 thru and #16 on the way, Zach has 14 with #15 on the way and Alex has 12. They continue to get taller and taller and put on some weight but I swear they burn off all they eat and they eat like horses...lol! Unfortunately Liz and Zach came down with a cold, so the day was not all that great.

Saturday was yet another Christmas celebration (Christmas will FINALLY be over this coming weekend...I just don't think it is normal to have Christmas go on this long...lol). This one was for my mom's side of the family...the Kedingers. We have normally have been out of town when it has been so this was the first time we could attend. It was also the first time most of my family has spent time with the kids. Unfortunately by then all three of them had the cold and were not very social. We were able to see Great Grandma Kedinger open her gift, which was a photobook of the kids.

Sunday seemed like a good lounge around day esp. since the kids were sick and we were also coming down with the cold. Alex had a cough that was sounding slightly different than the other two but we were not worried as he was still plenty active. After putting the kid to bed Alex started coughing even worse, we were up to check on him numerous times. By the time we headed to bed we made the decision to get the guest bedroom ready incase we needed to have him sleep upright on one of us. Needless to say Jeremy ended up downstairs with him all night...little sleep for both of them. I stayed upstairs and tended to Zach who was have troubles sleeping due to congestion. At 3:30am Alex's breathing was awful and he spiked a high fever. After debating about going to the ER, I settled our minds by looking up some info online and waited it out until I could get into the pediatrician. Jeremy stayed home with us on Monday. I took Alex in and he was officially diagnosed with Croup. He had the seal-like cough and trouble breathing. He was put on steriods and antibiotics. It is very contagious and Jeremy and I could end up with laryngitis so we are keeping our fingers crossed that Alex is the only one that gets it. That also means no playgroup this week. Sleeping is improving but we still are getting less then we'd like. It also seems like the other two will get by with just the cold as will Jeremy and I.

So that is what new with us from last week and half of this week. Here are some pictures taken during that time. Enjoy!

Jen

As the oldest you get the right to sit on your younger siblings...or at least that is what Alex thinks!

Daddy has some big slippers to fill...

Future Pioneers (mascot for University of Platteville...that is where Jeremy and I met)...

Alex hiding amongst the pillows...

Zach new way of being naughty...standing on the back of the couch and swinging from the curtains...

Liz and Zach worked very hard to get the stuff animals o the end table without any falling off...

Mommy makes a good horsey too...not the best thing (50+ lbs) on a bad back...

Alex

Liz

Zach (he did not want his picture taken)

23 months old...and challenging mommy and daddy daily...

Liz made sure daddy had his slippers the other night, tonight they will be warmed for him...

First week of the new year...

Back to weekly posts I go...unless of course there are a lot of interesting things going on around here. I must apologize right now for any grammatical errors I may make. With usually typing these up as fast as I can; I do not always catch all the mistakes (and there are lots, I know). Once I hire myself a proofreader which is right after I hire a maid, things will be perfectly written. Now we all know there ain't no maid being hired here...lol! Why hire one when you have one working for free...lol! Ok joking aside here is what our first full week of the new year look like.
This week I was able to watch Alexis alot since Jean had a few more hours to work. It is nice when I do get to watch her as she loves playing with the kids and it adds something new to the day. Not only did we get to spend a lot of time with Alexis but I found a playgroup that meets twice a week that we will be attending on a regular basis...nice for the kids but nice for me too. I am very excited about it. It also is part of my one of my resolutions for the year. Friday Zach got his stitches out. He was not a happy camper about the whole thing and we are both happy to have them out! Saturday we had my work Christmas party. We took the kids with us. Another uncharted territory. This was also the first time for many of my co-workers to meet the kids. So I was pretty excited to show them off. The kids did great! They were very well behaved. We messed with their bedtime, but things still went smoothly, which is great. Sunday they hung out with daddy a lot while mommy got some things done. Here are some pictures from the week.
Alex styling the inside of one of the hard hats and a purse while working on his Magna Doodle...
Zach working on his Magna Doodle in the tunnel...

The monsters after tipping the tent over and laying on it...

Liz relaxing on the Spiderman car...right after a tantrum (notice the splotchy face)...

Alex goofing around in his chair before lunch...

Snack time with Alexis...a new club secret hand shake...everyone put your sippy to your forehead...

Zach may be Mr. Tough Guy but he is a big teddy bear inside...just ask the baby...

Liz...do I need to say anymore...

The kids watching daddy take down the last of the Christmas lights...

Liz giving Roxy a much needed massage...Roxy is actually thinking "get out of my sun spot"

The kids sporting new outfits from Nana and Papa...

Liz resting with Roxy...notice Roxy is in her sun spot...

Daddy and his boys...boys are where shirt that say Like Father, Like Son...

Zach finishing his nap on daddy...

Brotherly love...

The Doodling Pros

The other toy that was a big hit was the Doodle Pro (aka Magna Doodles). The kids love to color but don't do it everyday. Now they can color whenever they want and I don't have to worry about them eating the coloring utensil or the mess. Auntie Jean hit the nail on the head for this one. They love them. They get the idea to clear the board. They carry them around like a prized possession. Don't worry they will still color the "old fashion" way but this is nice for them to have. Tonight they all three sat in the tent with their doodles. Life is great sitting in one of the best toys playing with another best toy...ah to be a kid again.
Thank Auntie Jean.
Love, Jen

The queen and her castle

The other gift that was a huge hit was also from Auntie Jackie. It is a butterfly tent for Liz's room. I put it up today and re-arranged her room a bit to make room for it. Can you tell she loves it!!!

Here she is thinking...mine, all mine....

I put some stuff animals in it before letting the kids see if...obviously they were not welcomed...

Because I had to move around things in her room, Liz was also very excited about her crib being moved, so she asked to be put in it. She grabbed her nuk (since it is always in there cribs) and some of her treasured stuffed animals and then asked to get out.

The boys had to check it out too...

Apparently the animals are ok if SHE puts them in...go figure!

The tent has two large butterflies that can be removed. They have straps on them so they can be worn over the shoulders. One of them is at perfect height for the kids to remove. So you gotta try all this stuff out right...duh mom!

The boys checking out Liz's new toys.
Zach doing what Zach does best...destroy things...he is taking the chainsaw from the tool bench to the tent...

Alex just had to try on the butterfly...here he is asking Zach what he thinks...

Thanks again Auntie Jackie.

Love, Jen

The infamous tent and tunnel...

As a parent you think you give the best gifts....well I was out-gifted by my sisters this year. Yep their gifts are a hit. The trucks that we gave the kids were a hit until yesterday. I don't think they have been touched all day today, but as any of us with kids know...it will change! The tent and tunnel are by far the biggest hit. This morning we came downstairs and it was the first thing attacked...I mean played with. They run into the tent crawl thru the tunnel and do it again and again. Very good exercise for them and it wears them out. Thanks Auntie Jackie!!!
Love, Jen

3 stitches later...

Here is the official first photo of the injured. You would not know that he is even hurt. The kid is just a rough little bugger. We have been calling him bull and he lives up to it everyday. We are glad that he was the first one majorly hurt, just because of his personality. Not that we want any of them hurt but it is bound to happen esp with two boys! I was asking Zach at the ER if we could start to have scar-leaving injuries below the neckline. A few weeks ago he cut his eyelid so there is a scar there too. So enough on the face! I must say that is not something I want to repeat anytime soon as watching them hold your child down absolutely sucks! I am glad that Zach did so well...he was a trooper. We will get the stitches out just in time to go to my work Christmas party (which will be the first time for many of them to meet the kids...great first impression, eh?). As you can tell he feels no pain!
Love, Jen

Headline News: Turner Xmas Ends w/ Visit to ER

Today we celebrated Christmas with the Turners (my family). We normally celebrate on Christmas Eve but due to various different things it was cancelled and scheduled for today. So we dressed the kids in their Christmas outfits, made some cookies and snacks, packed the presents up and headed over to my parents for the day. We got there in time for a little playing and then off to a nap. After waking up after a shirt nap, we ate some lunch. Then it was time to open presents! We did the adults gifts first. The 4 kids were very helpful. They wanted to make sure they helped wherever they could...
Here is Zach helping to show Uncle Momo his new shovel (it is more like he is eyeing it up to take for himself)...
Here is Liz, Alexis and Zach helping Auntie Jackie unwrap her gift...
Here they are again helping daddy open his gas can from Jean...
The other thing that the kids were very concerned about was the wrapping paper. Yes ripping it off but even more concerned about getting it thrown away. Here are a few pictures of them putting it in the proper place.

After the adults were done it was the kids turn. Auntie Jackie gave out her gifts first. She was very excited to watch them and interact with them since she lives further away and does nto see them often. Here is Zach unwrapping a musical saxaphone...it has Elmo on it!

Alex is working on unwrapping their new tent and tunnel. More on this in a moment.

Here is Liz working on unwrapping a tent with butterflies on it for her bedroom.

Now back to the tent and tunnel. The kids went absolutely CRAZY over this! They love it! I knew about it before hand and thought it was a great idea, but I did not know it would be this big of a hit!

As you can see from the picture above they are being rough and tough and having a great time...giggling...it was so fun for all of us adult to hear and watch. Things then calmed a bit and we continued. They got a horse on a stick which is difficult to explain to them at this age.

After a few gift they returned to the tunnel. That is when disaster struck. Zach went to collapse the tunnel and hit his forehead on the hearth of the fireplace. Complete chaos erupted. Grandma ran for ice and rags, daddy pulled the truck up to the door, grandpa helped with keeping the 3 dogs calm, Jean put on my shoes and helped with my jacket, Jack, Momo and Willie supervised the other kids. Within minutes we were in the truck speeding to the ER. I must say that with the adrenaline rushing thru your body you don't have time to get emotional, you just go into "protective mommy mode". The personnel in the ER were great. Zach did a great job with so many strange things happening to him. After about an hour and a half in the ER we left in a MUCH calmer mode. Zach ended up with 3 (yes we do everything in threes) stitches...blue of course! When we got back to grandma & grandpa's all the kids came up to see him. It was so incredibly sweet. All of them pointed and said "ouwa" but things quickly returned "normal". You would have never thought that he had hurt himself. Unfortunately I can see many more trips to the ER with him. While we were gone the kids continued to open gifts. Here is Liz opening a cinderela like toy...

Alex has just opened a robot...

Liz sitting quietly checking out a new toy of Alexis'...

Here are the girls hugging...

My parents said it was pretty quiet while Zach was gone. No fear thing got crazy once he was back. We were all on edge watching all the kids. The hearth had been blocked off. A few gifts were left for Zach to open. Here they are all helping open a new workbench with lots of tools including a drill and chainsaw nd even some protective goggles.

Alex trying out the goggles...

Liz checking out the hand tools...

and of course, Zach and the chainsaw, which he was using like a dustbuster...too funny...

So it was another exciting Turner Christmas...last year Alex slept thru most of it...this year Zach was the highlight...who will it be next year...Liz or Alexis??? Fun was had by all!

Love, Jen

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone! Can't wait to see what 2009 will bring us. Our New Years Eve was very exciting...we barely made it to midnight. These social butterflies (not really) stayed home. It was actually just like any other night around here except we bought champagne and tried to stay up late. We watched a Marilyn Monroe movie and each had a glass of champagne and we in bed by 20 after 12. Real exciting, heh? That's ok...I rather be home than dealing with a bunch of drunk people...and well getting drunk is really not a good option when you have 3 toddlers to take care of the next day. So we keep it low key and do just fine.
We put out a bunch of munchies today and Jean and Alexis came to spend the day. I can't think of a better way to celebrate the new year.
Before Jean and Alexis got here Jeremy caught this moment...I could not be any happier...the loves of my life (including Jeremy...someone had to take the picture...lol).
Hope everyone had a safe and happy New Years Eve.
Love, Jen