This Cracks Me UP!

I am trying my BEST to teach our little monkeys how to help around the house. I think it's so important for so many reasons. Firt of all, it teaches children to be unselfish and to think of someone other than themselves. If you are serving your family, your focus is no longer on YOU.

Helping me with housework teaches the children to honor me as their mother. The Bible teaches us to "Honor your father and mother", and it is so important. I can think of so many times I did not honor my parents or my Lord. Prayerfully we are teaching our children early how to honor us, as it is a God-given commandment! :)

Housework also teaches our children the importance of keeping a neat home and it gives them the skills to do it. If they go off to college having never cleaned a toilet or folded laundry, I would not have equipped them well. It is our job as parents to equip our children.

I am not perfect at teaching our children or doing any of the above, as you will see in the picture below. I asked one of the children to unload the dishwasher. This is what I found:



It was no one's fault but mine that I didn't explain the job well! I forgot to mention putting things away! However, our little one did stack well, didn't she?!

Happy 7th Birthday, Buggy!

Our Bug is 7 today! I can hardly believe it. I can't wait to finish the story from yesterday. So... the doctor on call told me to call back when my contractions were stronger. I decided I couldn't wait any longer, so I called our new sister-in-law of just 6 weeks, and asked her to come and spend the night with the triplets. Don't you know she wished she hadn't answered that phone call?! Thankfully we're still friends!
**If you can't handle medical terms surrounding a birth, pleae do not read!**
DH & I arrived at the hospital around 11pm. They checked me in and the doctor started challenging me as to why I was scheduled for a c-section the following week. Well, dear doc, let me count the ways:

-My body carried and delivered TRIPLETS by c-section... my womb is stretched and probably very, very tired

-VBACs are great for those who have carried one, not THREE

-With a VBAC on a compromised uterus, there is an increased chance of rupturing the uterus.

-The doctor who was managing my care agreed that a c-section was best

For some reason, she wanted to argue with me and tell me that I should try a VBAC .... and I was only 1 centimeter. I'm sorry but starting at 1 and having hours of labor to go, while putting the baby at risk, is not my idea of a good time. In comes the drama. The doctor realized that my water had broken... TWO DAYS EARLIER. Suddenly she became frantic and said I needed an immediate c-section. All of this happened while DH stepped out to call and friends and family to tell them that baby #4 was on his or her way.
In walks DH, only to find a very panicked Mama Henley. I had become completely nervous, and I think I was having a panic attack. Words were bouncing around like, "We need to get the baby out NOW. The baby is in an unsterile environment and it has been over 48 hours. Let's prep her for surgery NOW." I was scared to death. DH prayed for me and asked for anti-anxiety meds. They said I couldn't have anything for anxiety or nausea until the baby was born. I wasn't going to need anything after I knew the baby was okay, but at this point, I was TERRIFIED of losing our baby. I do trust the Lord, but I admit that I was afraid.
Thankfully, our 4th bundle of joy, whom we were convinced was a boy, was born at 1:00AM on July 28th! SHE weighed 7 pounds even and was 20 1/2 inches long. Our precious baby girl was perfect and was affectionately named after both grandmothers.


I had adored Dr. Smith at our practice. However, the 2 women in his practice steered me completely WRONG. I switched practices to use the doctor we had when the triplets were born. I just couldn't risk having that kind of care another time. It proved to me that we should all take ANY kind of medical care into our own hands. What kind of experiences have you had where you had to take your car into your own hands?

7 Years Ago...

Seven years ago today I was the proud mother of two year old triplets who was expecting a very special surprise on August 6th. I had no idea that our baby bunting would decide that she had no intention of waiting that long. On Sunday night, July 27, 2003, I had no idea what glorious gift we would be given the next day.
The night before on Friday the 26th, I had thrown a small birthday gathering for my sweet DH whose birthday is the 29th. I decided to celebrate his birthday early since I was scheduled for a c-section on August 1st. We had our dear MH come to help with the children while I prepared for the party. Somehow we had time to run to Dos Taquitos to eat before our sweet guests arrived. As we left, I felt like perhaps my water had broken right there in the parking lot. I called my doctor who was on call AT THE HOSPITAL. In other words, it would have inconvenienced her in NO WAY had she asked me to come into the hospital to be checked. She did not. She told me that it sounded like I was fine and to not worry about it.
Therefore, I had DH's party and worried all night that something more might happen in front of our guests. It didn't, so the next day I SAT ON THE GROUND and painted chairs. Remember, I have trusted the medical professional and believe that there is no way my water broke.
Sunday morning the 5 of us went to church. While I felt uncomfortable, I sat through the service and came home afterwards. That evening my brother and his new bride brought over some delicious lasagna and we enjoyed a great meal together. I continued to feel ill and started feeling like I had the flu. Then, I began to have contractions.
I called our wise medical professional, who informed me that I was not having strong contractions because I was speaking too well. Never mind that they were less than 5 minutes apart, mind you. At 10pm, I called her back and then told her that I was going to come to the hospital (where she was ON CALL) because I could not scramble for help with 2 year old triplets any later than that. She told me I would most likely be sent home, but DH & I packed our bags anyway and went to the hospital.
The story will be continued tomorrow as we celebrate the birth of our fabulous blessing #4, our dear Bug. We love you, Buggy!

Born with a silver spoon in her mouth?

Only I would have a child who takes her silver spoon to school! Hilarious! As I was cleaning Bug's lunch box after school, I discovered that she had taken her engraved silver child's spoon to school IN HER LUNCH! So much for letting the little ones pack their own lunches! I'm just thankful she didn't throw it away!

Our Ballerina Bug

Our Bug has been taking ballet with one of her sweet new best friends. Her Christmas recital was last week. I was so proud of our little ballerina!

Our Bug

Sweet Kappa Bug, when did you grow up? I am having a hard time letting you go to Kindergarten next year!! Our Bug has been home with me for 5 years. She finishes school at noon each day, and for the past 2 years, we have had a few hours alone each day while little sis sleeps and the trips are at school. She has been my little buddy. We have gone to lunch, read books, had playdates, played babies, played homeschool, taken naps, colored, etc. K has kept me company, made me laugh, and just been there. I am going to miss her sweet spirit so much. K has always been full of personality, and she keeps you on your toes!!!

K, you are beautiful, smart, kind, loving, giving, happy, and you love the Lord. You are our precious first surprise baby. You came to us after the triplets even though the doctors said we could only have babies through fertility treatments. You surprised us all and we have always been so grateful. You have grown into an amazing older sister. You have always shown such great support for the triplets. K, I am so proud of you and I can't wait to see you blossom even more next year. Let's have fun together this summer. I love you, Bug!