Happy Birthday to me!!!

I have the most amazing husband. I know everyone says that sometime or another in their marriage, but I really have a great man taking care of me.

We got back from Nauvoo on Sunday night, and Monday got a call from Corey's mom saying she wanted to come visit. She was on the road the next day. She got in late Tuesday evening, and we were sitting around visiting when Corey handed me an envelope. I had been cleaning all day (mother-in-law visit cleaning) and was tired, so I was very confused when I opened the envelope to stare at the travel itinerary in front of me. It said that I was leaving Saturday morning for Ontario. But I don't have a passport, and I don't think December is the time for me to go to Canada. But, on further inspection, I realized that I was going to Ontario, CA!! That's right next to Ranco Cucamonga, and that's where Amber lives with her babies!!! I was going to finally see those quads!!! Not only did Corey buy my ticket, he arranged the week with Amber... he got me a substitute for Primary... he changed my doctor appointment... and he took a day off to watch the kids! What a man.

So I was off to sunny weather, and beautiful babies. And I forgot my camera. Not that I had much time to even think about taking pictures. So, I've stolen some pictures from Amber's blog (this woman has enough organization to post regularly, nurse, pump, medicate babies, entertain those that come to help her, and stay calm while 2-3 babies are crying in her arms at the same time). And I fell in LOVE! I cried when I left, not just because I was going to miss helping out, but because I wasn't going to be able to hold and feed and change and rock and watch their development anytime I wanted. I can't believe how much I bonded with these wonderful miracles in such a short time. Five days doesn't seem like much, but a week later, I'm still missing those babies so very much. And it was hard work! There is NO down time. If all four are taken care of and happy (or sleeping), you are doing dishes, or folding laundry, or prepping bottles, or trying to remember to nap... because the nights were not any easier. I was peed on, and puked on, and woken up, and everything else that babies do that mommies (and surrogate aunties) have to endure times 4. And I wish I could go back tomorrow.

Here are the babies, these pics were taken a couple days before I got there. Top left is Michael, top right is Jakob, bottom left is Jaileigh, and bottom right is Anthony. It's amazing to me that anyone can confuse them, they seem so individual to me. Of course, that doesn't mean that I didn't fumble the names several times a day, but I always knew what I meant.


Typical scene at home, Mom and Dad holding two babies each.


Beautiful family, don't you think?


Oh, how I love them. Anthony, Michael, Jaileigh, and Jakob.

Hard to read in this picture, but their onesies say "All mommy wants for Christmas is a silent night." You don't know how true this is. Amber could fall asleep with people visiting around her, catch a couple winks while nursing or pumping, sleep with babies on her lap and chest... anything to keep up with these babies.

Oh, yeah, I came home the night before my birthday to balloons, a crown, and a completely clean house. My bed was even made! And this was all Corey, his mom went home a few days before. Addie made me wear this crown the whole day (when she remembered). Aren't I a lucky woman?!?