Adventures
The plan is to share this posting (this is Jen for now). Brad and I wanted to share with you one of our great outings with the boys. Who says if you have quads you have to stay cooped up forever?
Our afternoon started by making some wonderful visits with people we trusted with my life and the boys – literally. Our first stop: Dr. Sumner’s office. Personally, I was thrilled to see so many of the staff that took care of these boys before birth. Their lives were valued highly and we are so appreciative and thankful for the care we received. I’m telling you, Dr. Sumner’s is genious material (hopefully his head isn’t getting bigger by this posting, if he happens to be reading – hahahaaaaa!). It’s so strange to see this staff every week, and some of them everyday and then go 4 months without them! Introducing them to the boys was a real treat!
Dr. Sumners with our boys
I think the boys recognized Dr. Sumners from their birthday!
Since we were in the area, we decided to pop into the NICU to see if any of our nurses happened to be on shift. We saw some familiar faces there as well, including Nataline (Clark’s primary nurse).
By then it was feeding time, so we headed to the lobby to feed, and there was Dr. Henry (my endocrinologist)and his wife. He happened to be there for a surgery. Very nice timing! His office is responsible for providing our sto
llers, which have been a huge blessing, as you can see.
Alright, I’ll let Brad take it from here……
After leaving the hospital, Jen and I were trying to decide what to do. You see, our lives are now lived in 3 hour increments during the day. You plan everything you do around their feedings that begin at EXACTLY 9am,noon,3pm, 6pm, and 9pm. So, when we go out, it is usually right after a feeding and we either plan to be back by the next feeding, or we have to take one with us. What Jen wrote about above was timeframe number one. We fed the boys in the lobby of Women’s hospital after coming down from the NICU. By the time they finished eating, spent some time talking with Dr. Henry, and got them loaded up, it was about 4pm.
We have two hours before we have to be home for their next feeding. One thing you do not want to do is be late for a feeding with four hungry boys in the van, that makes for a loud drive home! Since we already had the boys in the car, we wanted to try to do something else before heading home. We considered the drive thru, but as we passed Texas Roadhouse, my mouth started watering. Jen saw their sign that advertised two dinners for $13.99 before 5:30pm. In my head, I was thinking it would be nice to go out someplace and not eat in the car, but with four babies this seemed impossible. Then Jen said, “we could try it”.
Thats all it took for me. I said, seriously? She nodded yes and I flipped a U-turn and went back. We then spend the next 5 minutes discussing how to get four carseats into the restaurant. We knew that the boys were sleeping, and as long as they stayed asleep, it could go really well, but we also knew that it could be a complete disaster with four little boys screaming at the top of their lungs.
Anyway, we went for it and they were angels! Isaac wasnt real happy with the country music when we first got in there, but he was back asleep in a minute or two. Jen and I ate in peace for the next 30 minutes or so, and our waiter helped us carry the boys back out to the van. It was just so great to push ourselves a little bit and get a little more confidence.
God has been so gracious to us in allowing us to figure out ways to get out and enjoy our boys. I cannot describe how much fun my life is right now. Many people comment on how difficult and hard it must be to have quads when we are out with them. But, what most people don’t understand is how much fun they are missing out on. Yes, it is difficult sometimes, but I think for every difficulty that has been added to our lives, we are getting four times more joy out of too. So now, when people say that kind of stuff, I just think to myself how blessed I am to get to experience this awesome adventure that God has given us.
Nuts boys? Come’on, they’re free!
I told Henry he could order off the kids menu, but he fell asleep trying to decide.
Until our next adventure……(which begins at 9am sharp tomorrow morning!)
Brad, Jen, Henry, Brooks, Clark, and Isaac
This is Amanda Usedtobespiering. I’m so happy that you were able to get out as a family. I always like reading your blog posts because of your positive attitude. Maybe I understand 1/4 of your experience of being a (for lack of better word) “spectacle.” There aren’t too many foreign babies in Japan so we get talked to all the time. It’s really fun! If you have a few seconds, here’s a link to my favorite family photo: http://www.ringo.com/photos/photo.html?photoId=215323418
Take care and God bless!
I just happened upon your blog about a month ago. I am amazed at your attitude. Your boys are precious and I look forward to watching them grow through your blog.
PS I have a little boy named Brooks too!
Hurray for first adventures! I’m so glad you have pictures to document! 🙂 You guys are getting good at merging 4 more lives into your own!! I think of you all the time! I shared your postcard with people at work who have been very interested in everything since the beginning- it was a huge hit!! 🙂 Continue to enjoy every moment!!
Emily Fay 🙂
How fun! I love your pictures- the captions are hilarious! What wonderful memories you are making.
See you soon, I hope!
Andrea Pulice
yay!!! congrats guys! i bet that your lunch outing felt like a HUGE accomplishment! i’m learning very fast that it’s all about the little things, ya know? the things people take for granted! i’m glad the boys were able to see all the people who loved them and took care of them inadvertently before they were even born! how special!!
I really enjoyed this post! I remember all too well trying to not waste the time bettween feedings and I only had twins. I loved that your made it out without help, it must have felt amazing! I am glad they all behaved well too.
What an inspiration you all are! I found your blog right around the time your boys were born, and have been reading it ever since! They are all so adorable 🙂 I am amazed that you were brave enough to try dinner with all of them—but it’s so great that you are able to find so much joy and have fun with them!! What a blessing your little men must be!
Hey, Jennifer. This is Jamie Reese. I loved that you took the boys to Texas Roadhouse. I can only imagine the looks you got walking in there! I took Peyton and Paige there this past weekend, and had people constantly staring and smiling at us and there is “only” 2 of them!! They look healthy and great. Know that we’re all still praying for you guys. Jamie
You guys are HILARIOUS!!!!! I love it that you went out to eat all together. I bet you gave the waiters lots to talk about. How FUN!
Seriously, I am so happy for you and proud of you (is that the right word?) for being so freewheeling and funloving. I cannot even begin to imagine what it would be like! I love it how much you guys always seem to be having a blast together — but not surprised, of course. I know you!
Do you (Brad and Jen) feel like SUPER best buddies — even more than ever? That’s what it seems like. I have always loved that about you, that you really share a companionship. You two are the greatest. I mean, you six. 🙂
Love ya!
Gretchen
Okay, I was laughing out loud! You two are the best parents ever! You see the positive side of everything! What an inspiration you are and continue to be in my life! I cannot tell you the joy that following your lives has brought to mine! Until your next post…
Mandy Hines
WOW!! I just got a e-mail from our editor of the Westside mothers of multiples in which I belong because I have triplets!!! You guys are so brave we didn’t venture out until our boys were much older. I saw the same doctors
(Dr. Henry and Dr. Summers)they were both excellent and a personal friend of the doctor I work for. I live fairly close to you guys I live in Jamestown. Happy you have FOUR healthy babies!! Shannon
This blog was hilarious, love the pics of the boys at Texas Roadhouse.
I’m envious that you managed a meal w/ four babies, I rarely could get through one w/ just Jackson!
Hello
I am proud of you both for trying something new. 🙂 It made me remember what is was like for us taking out our four little ones – of course they were not all the same age, but newborn, 1, 3, and 4. It was very funny for people to watch us I am sure:)
Much love and prayers,
The McKenzie Team – we hope to see you this summer on the Sunday after the forth of July:)