Too Long Gone

You know you have been gone from your blog too long when its address drops off your "favorites" list!! Good grief! I went click my favorite link, as I always do, and my blog link was GONE!! After a moment of sheer panic, I realized it had been a MONTH since I had posted and my link had disappeared due to lack of use!! So sad, but just the way my life is right now! This morning I did, however, have a few stabs of guilt, and a bit of blog withdrawal, so I decided to update NOW, rather that "later when the kids are asleep, I'm not so tired, I'm more relaxed, etc.etc.etc." As I SHOULD know by now, there is NEVER a perfect, quiet, relaxing time around here, and opportunities to update have to be taken where they can be found!

Christmas for us was WONDERFUL!! We had a great time! This year we had told Thomas that we were scaling down a bit from what has, in the past, been a time of GREAT excess here in the Gallaher household. I felt the need to simplify for number one, sanity purposes, and two, because these kids don't NEED 17 more boxes of plastic toys and gizmos!! They just don't. They each got GREAT toys, most of them playsets, cars and the like which require imagination and thought!! Thomas did get Guitar Hero III, but having tried it myself, the amount of coordination and rhythm needed FAR outweighs the video game aspect of it!! We had a nice Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa's, opening gifts and eating wonderful food, then had them over Christmas Morning to do Santa gifts and our presents. I made a very basic breakfast for everyone and we all just enjoyed watching the kids play with their toys! Christmas Day was relaxing, and I cooked turkey, stuffing, casserole, and pies for dinner. Very low-key and enjoyable.

The kids are doing great. Thomas is missing basketball during the holiday hiatus, but he has practice tonight to try to help fill the gap. That, his Guitar Hero game, and his new Ripstick will keep him busy today! Benjamin got some cool playsets - a pirate Playmobil one and a cool wood train set, along with the Power Rangers set Santa brought, and he keeps busy playing quietly by himself with them for 30-45 minutes at a time!! Max got his beloved "kickar thing" (guitar) from Santa and plays it A LOT! That and the Alphabet Song from his Fridge Phonics toy are about to drive me batty, but make him VERY happy, and a Happy Max is a (mostly) Quiet Max, and we like that, so we are adapting! In the midst of the noise and chaos, Abby is like the calm in the storm! As long as she is fed, she is a happy, sweet baby who smiles and coos and wiggles around! Such a lovable little bundle of pink!!

I'm off to pick up and find homes for toys and clothes, and get ready for our Electives Gear-Up meeting tonight. I have errands to run, and menus to plan, and clothes to wash! Here are a few quick pictures and I promise to try to update more often!


Thomas - Self-Portrait

Thomas and his Elves decorate the tree!

It's the All-Underwear Decorating Crew!!

Merry 1st Christmas Sweet Abby Grace!
At the park on a warm winter's day!


Pretty in Pink!

Back to Busyness!

After a quiet and rather low-key Thanksgiving, things are getting ready to kick into high, getting ready for Christmas mode! We had a nice Thanksgiving dinner at Mom and Rich's with all the standard favorites. Mom took a few family pictures, one of which I used for our Christmas card!
It was a nice, relaxing afternoon and evening and we enjoyed ourselves!

I will take a moment here to shamelessly plug Walgreen's and their on-line photo card service - The BOMB!! Friday, I went to their website, picked out the card that I wanted; copied, pasted, and edited the picture Mom had taken onto the card; and sent the request to my local Walgreen's - 3 blocks away. They were ready in 2 hours! 60 personalized photo greeting cards for $15. With envelopes. I am thrilled, and though I haven't QUITE finished my baby gift thank you notes, I DO have our Christmas cards here and waiting!

Norman was off Friday and we really all just spent three days hanging out as a family and relaxing! Thomas had practice Friday evening, then spent the night with his friend Patrick. He got to go with Patrick and his family to the UVA. Va Tech game in Charlottesville, and had a GREAT time, though he was VERY disappointed UVA lost. Other than that, it has been a very non-productive but enjoyable long weekend.

I did take some time yesterday to take some pictures of Miss Sweet Sweet. Max helped some, but I was able to get some good pictures....


There's almost ALWAYS a brother swooping in to be part of the action!!

Miss Smiley!
My Sweet Sweet Girl!!

Pictures!!

For your viewing pleasure!!


Happy in her car seat!

She's wearing 0-3month clothes now! Not preemie or newborn sized!! Our growing girl!!





Max LOVES to be "undled up me!" (Bundled up me!) which he says, LOUDLY while dragging this queen siz e comforter around!!
Think he's up to (or soon to be up to!) something?? I do!!!

All sweet and innocent!!

Been A Long Time

It's been too long since I last posted, but between everyone here cycling through being sick, and me hitting what I call my 4 week wall, I really just haven't been up to posting.

Thomas is finally over his bronchitis! 2 rounds of antibiotics and an inhaler and he is well! He had is first basketball game of the season last night and did GREAT! Spirit won and played well, and Thomas got a good amount of playtime, which he was happy about. The team is very competitive, and with missing practice time for his ankle and bronchitis, he was worried he might not get in and have much playing time. Benjamin and Max kept Norman busy at the game, alternating between watching the game for VERY short amounts of time and climbing the bleachers, running around out in the commons area, and waiting for their turn to run around on the court after the game! Abby Grace did what she does best these days - ate and slept, and looked oh so sweet!!!

Benjamin is recovering from an occluded and infected ear tube and general overall yuckiness. He is truly the best patient, and the person in this household I MUCH prefer to be around when sick. He gets quieter than usual, and a bit more cuddly, but he does NOT complain, like the bigger boys, or want to be CONSTANTLY in my arms and lap, like Max does. It was actually a big deal Monday when he woke up at 3am and said "My ear hurts." He took some ibuprofen, and went right back to sleep. Bless his sweet heart!!

Max has had nasty runny nose the last few days, but it has had NO effect on his food intake (still high!) OR his energy level (higher still!!!) I'm told that's a good thing, but a little slowing down would be ok by me!!

I am slowly coming out from behind my 4 week wall. I have discovered that, for me, the 4th-7th weeks after baby arrives are the hardest, and a true struggle for me. The "brand-newness" has started to wear off, and the high-needs part begins. Abby nurses A LOT, as did her brothers, so much of my time is spent feeding her, which is wonderful in it's own way, but also challenging. By week 4, my energy is back and I have a LIST of things I want/need to do, and just can't, due to the nature of caring for a newborn! She HAS started to sleep longer at night-4 hours from 11pm-3am- so that's happy, but I struggle with not being able to do nearly as much as I want to! I am working on rethinking my expectations and focusing on what I DO accomplish, but that is a struggle when I feel quite inadequate! I have discovered that, in the past, anyway, I am pretty well-adjusted by about week 7-8, so this, too shall pass and get better, it's just a matter of pushing through!!

The good news on the Abby front is that she is just PERFECT! So sweet and growing and changing already! Her 1 month check up was on the 8th and was great! She was 8 lbs, 8 oz, and 20 1/2" long. She is healthy and growing well, and just wonderful. She SCREAMED when she had to get naked and get weighed ( I TOTALLY sympathize, let me tell you!), but nursed then was happy and quiet for the rest of her exam! Good baby!! She is a happy baby who loves to be held and cuddled with!!! Fits right in with her brothers!!

Well, the day beckons and there are things to do, dishes to wash, and clothes to fold. I will try to take (and post!) some pictures later this afternoon when Abby isn't nursing and her adoring brothers are napping! Wish me luck!!!

Halloween and Bath Pictures

Taking a few minutes while Abby Grace naps and Benjamin and Max are happily occupied playing with their workshop tools to make a quick post.

We had a very boring weekend. Thomas was sick last week, and I took him to the doctor on Friday-bronchitis, which they said is going around. He's been on antibiotics and laid low all weekend. I felt crummy Thursday, Friday, and spent most of the day in bed on Saturday. Yesterday was spent kicking back and relaxing, too. Thomas is starting to sound a bit better and so far Max, Benjamin, Abby and Norman seem to have escaped unscathed! We hope so!!

We have a busy week ahead - Thomas has an orthodontist appointment tomorrow, we have MOPS on Wednesday, Abby Grace has her one month check-up on Thursday, and Thomas of course has basketball practice, and we have Electives on Friday! All great stuff, so we need to all be WELL!!

Here are my 2 knights from Halloween night. They were a bit hesitant about the whole trick or Treat concept, especially Benjamin, but once they went to the first house and got a bag of Cheetoes, one of their FAVORITES, the apprehension quickly left and they were adorable and had a good time!!

Ready for TREATS!!!
Benjamin eyes some fellow Trick-or-Treaters walking down the street....Checking out the kids across the street...

Here are a few shots from Abby's first bath! Thankfully, the LEAST traumatic of all my kids' first baths - Thomas' hair all washed off his first bath, which sent me to the phone in tears to call my mom for advice; and Benjamin and Max both HATED their first baths and cried and screamed the whole time!! Abby Grace - no tears, loved the whole thing, and was relaxed and happy, despite me washing her and an audience of 4 others!! She just is a joy and makes me SO happy!!!My smiley baby girl!!Benjamin in his usual position - kissing and loving on his sister!!

Yes, yes, yes....

I KNOW it has been too long since I posted, but things here are a rather delicately balanced juggling act these days, and it doesn't take much (an unexpected poopy diaper or need to be fed RIGHT NOW QUICK SHE'S STARVING!!! crying fit as we are headed out the door) to completely derail the BEST of intentions! You wouldn't think one little, tiny person could throw us into such disarray, but when Abby speaks, we all listen!

Things are rolling right along here. Abby Grace is nursing, and cuddling, and pooping, and sleeping, and nursing some more, and is just perfect! She is VERY laid back about all the cuddles, hugs, kisses and pokings of her older brothers, and is just SO sweet! We are all smitten!

Max and Benjamin are both doing well. We have had a few bumps in the road of sibling adjustment, but over all it has been amazingly smooth! I have tried to make a point of doing fun things with each of them alone, like going to the grocery store or sorting laundry, and that has helped. They are both excited about Trick or Treating tonight! They are going as knights, complete with chest armor and swords! Benjamin is VERY excited about the prospect of LOTS of candy - he is most definitely the sweet tooth of the family!

Thomas is doing very well! We went to the Orthopedist on Monday and he got the all clear to play basketball!! He will be in an ASO ankle brace for all practices and games ALL season, or anytime he is at risk of turning his ankle, but he is all good to play and was SO excited to get to practice on Monday! It was great to see him back on the court, jumping for rebounds and blocking the baseline! Woohoo! We got his preliminary Spirit basketball game schedule - 30 games between Nov. 16 and March 10, with the 4 day East Coast HomeSchool Tournament in Lynchburg, Va March 19-22. Thomas is SO excited and I am so thankful he didn't have a serious, season-ending injury!

Norman went back to work on the 22nd after 2 weeks off. It was nice having him here during those 1st weeks of adjustment, but he is glad to be back at work, and I am glad to be getting into a more "normal" daily routine with the boys and my little princess, though I am still in that 1/2 speed, get 1/2 of what you have planned for the day done mode. We get a little more efficient and a little less behind each day, and I am just going by the motto "Slow and steady wins the race." Not my usual mode of operation, but it will do for now!!

During the last month, we have been very blessed by my friends at church, in HEM and MOPS, who have been bringing meals and sending cards with love and prayers. I feel truly overwhelmed by the kindness and love we have been shown, and don't know HOW I can possibly thank everyone enough for all they have done. A message went out the week before Abby arrived when Thomas was hobbled, and I was overwhelmed and my friends stepped in and gave us such love and support. It brings tears to my eyes and shivers up my spine when I think of how amazing the people in my life are, and how privileged I am to know such great sisters in Christ. I am truly blessed and so very grateful.


Well, I am off to do laundry, and dishes, and help Thomas with a Biology experiment, and let Max and Benjamin color, and Abby will need to nurse soon, and so on and so it goes....

Before I go - a few pictures!

Mr. Happy - Such a sweet little fella! My little smiley man!

Benjamin and Abby Grace - he TRULY adores his little sister!Sweet, sweet baby girl!! The crutches...history! On to the hoop!!!

She is SO sweet!

And so are my boys! I wanted to post a quick entry before what looks to be a busy day. Abby Grace and I are heading to MOPS today, just the two of us, for some fellowship and love and hugs! I miss my friends when I don't see them, and am anxious for a few hours in the company of women, after being so surrounded by the fellas the last couple weeks!! Then later today the boys go to Grandma and Grandpas for the evening! Hard to know who enjoys/appreciates THAT more!! ;O)

Great news is that Abby Grace had her bilirubin test AGAIN yesterday, and it had dropped WELL below the level of 15 that her doctor was hoping for!! YAY!! No more heel sticks for now!! We are VERY happy about that! Yesterday she did NOT want the phlebotomist touching her little foot, and she SCREAMED the whole time they took her blood. They even had to stick her twice!! NOT the best way to start the day, but she recovered quickly and was back to her cuddly, sweet self!!

Benjamin and Max continue to be smitten. Max gets VERY excited when "Abby open EYES!!" and loves it when she had the hiccups. Benjamin LOVES to give her kisses and tell her how sweet and beautiful she is! Thomas coos at and talks to her, but usually only when no one is watching!!! :o)

Here are a few amazing pictures my mom took of the little princess on Monday. Complete with LOTS of pink!!!

A Quick Entry....

For someone NOT used to spending a great deal of time relaxing and resting, the past week has both flown by, and gone amazingly slow! I am SO not used to not driving and needing to ask for help lifting things and bending! Not how my daily life usually plays out!!!

We've had a few challenges this week - Abby's jaundice, which involved daily heel sticks for blood checks and two visits to her pediatrician (thankfully with no little boys in tow!), and some adjustments on the part of the boys to having a new sibling, and me to having Norman home and taking charge all day!

The boys LOVE Abby, and my big concern is a bit TOO much love, say, when Norman is back to work and I have to run to the bathroom! We find ourselves repeating, over and over, "You can't touch the baby without a grownup with you!!" I am researching protective netting for the 2nd porta-crib we are going to get and set up in the living room/dining room, to keep curious boys and their toys OUT of her safe space!! Please send along any other suggestions you may have for keeping Abby protected from the overzealous affection of a rambunctious 3 1/2 year old and VERY physical 2 year old!!!

Well, today awaits!! I went and helped Norman on my route this morning, with Abby happily in her car seat, sleeping away, and Thomas at home babysitting the boys while watching SportsCenter! Abby has another Dr. appointment this morning, just a weight check and look-see to make sure her jaundice is leaving, and I have a few errands to run, now that I can drive again!! YAY!!

Oh, and here are a few pictures for your Monday viewing pleasure!! Enjoy!!

Introducing....Abby Grace Gallaher

Here is our little Princess! Abby Grace arrived at 8:12am on Oct. 5, 2007. She weighed 7 lbs. 4 1/2oz, 19 1/2" long, and is just perfect!! The little boys ADORE her! I was changing her in our room this morning, in her porta-crib, and Max was sleeping with Norman. He woke up, saw us, and his first words of the day were "See Abby NOW!" He and Benjamin ALWAYS want to hold her and are SO cute with her! Benjamin just keeps repeating "She's SO cute! She's BEAUTIFUL!" over and over and over!!Well, Norman and the littles are at the park, and Thomas is upstairs working on Biology, so I am going to lay down with the little Miss, to get some rest before things get crazy again!!

Almost There!!!!!

After MUCH waiting and anticipation, we are into the countdown to the arrival of our sweet new baby!! We are taking the boys to mom and Rich this evening to spend the night there, my route is taken care of for the next 8 days, and we are scheduled to be at the hospital at 6:00am tomorrow, with surgery set for 8:00am!! I am excited, nervous, tired, and READY!!!

Max and Benjamin have been asking when they are going to grandma and grandpa's since the got up at 7:15 this morning. We talked more about the baby today and Max laughs every time we say she won't have teeth, and Benjamin keeps letting us know that babies' heads are "soft and squishy",which he learned in his sibling class! We have also discussed the fact she will be coming home to live with us in a few days, to which Max puts his finger over his lips and says "ssshhhhhh."

Thomas is managing his injury well, getting around just fine, with a few crutch slippings, but not too many! He mostly is concerned about this setting him back for basketball, and I've tried to assure him I think he'll be just fine!!

Well, I have things to finish up to get ready for tomorrow! Thank you for your thoughts and prayers, and I'll be back soon, with sweet baby shots!!

Not TOO Bad, but not so great, either!

It's been one of those good news, bad news kinda weeks, so far. The very relieving news is that Thomas' fibula IS broken, but it is very common, fairly minor break. He can start putting weight on it in 3 weeks, and walking without crutches in 4. He will miss some basketball practice, but hopefully should be up and running for the season.

The bad news is that the pain is subsiding, and now the boredom is setting in. He can't do the things he wants to do, he can't get around as easily as he usually does, and his sides and arms hurt. While I am glad his leg is not hurting, a bored, grumpy teenager is NOT particularly what we need around this house 4 days before the birth of our little one!

I have realized, too, that I MAY underestimate the help that Thomas is with Benjamin and Max. Having noone to chase them around the backyard, give them unlimited drink refills, and sneak them cookies while I am in the bathroom (while helping himself to one or two at the same time :o) ) has made them QUITE more to handle than they usually are, at a time when I have WAY too much to do! Max "helped" me clean out the refrigerator and Benjamin was sweet enough to empty out ALL his Pull-Ups and Max's diapers onto the floor. Twice!

Tomorrow will be another fun day, too, I'm sure! Norman came with me this morning on my paper route, and will in the morning, too. He has to learn the way to the 343 addresses I deliver to, all before 6:00am! We are NOT morning people, me especially, so trying to be upbeat and positive at 9 months pregnant at 4:00am is a true challenge!

Never Boring Around Here!

Because a beautiful baby shower last night, Norman's birthday tomorrow, and the upcoming birth of Abby Grace on Friday is NOT enough excitement in our lives, we were met with a bit of an unexpected challenge today! Thomas fell helping me on my paper route this morning and broke a bone in his right ankle. After I quickly finished delivering the 35-40 papers we had left, we were at St. Mary's ER at 7:40 this morning. It seems to be a minor crack, and we will be calling the pediatric orthopedic specialist tomorrow to get it looked at and see what our course of treatment will be. He's in an aircast/brace thing and on crutches. If there is anything sketchier than a gangly, slightly clumsy 6'4" 15 year old who has inherited my tendency to trip over air, it is one on crutches in a house with 2 littles and a VERY pregnant mom. Oh, and a bedroom upstairs!! My life is TRULY a never-ending source of excitement these days!!

Thomas is managing well. His ankle is sore and swollen, and he is upset about missing basketball, but he wasn't going to be at practice tomorrow or Friday anyway, and hopefully it will be a quick healing fracture that will heal with very minimal intervention. He's been good about icing it, and taking OTC meds for the swelling and pain. He'll be sleeping on the air mattress in the den tonight, and in Benjamin and Max's room Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights, so Norman can come with me early the next mornings to learn the route.

We appreciate any good thoughts and prayers for safety and healing, and that Norman can QUICKLY learn what Thomas has been doing on my paper route! We're t-minus 5 days and counting til baby's arrival. I am working Thursday am, then have a substitute for a few days, but the plan was for Norman and Thomas to take over after that.

We're just waiting to see what happens and see where we go from here!

Again, it really is NEVER boring!!

Belated Birthday Post

Thomas' 15th birthday was last Thursday and , since I have not updated recently, I thought I'd stop in and post some Birthday pictures! I TRULY cannot believe that is has been 15 years!! BLOWS my mind!!

Thomas loves to bake! He is SO much better at it than I am, too! One of my old bosses used to say he could always tell when I had baked something, as I always would come in to work with a burn mark on my arm from the hot rack I would inevitably touch while in the process of baking! Anyway, Thomas has often spoken of wanting to be a pastry chef someday, and he enjoys practicing his craft! Grandma had him over last Monday and they baked 4 cake mixes, in big pans, loaf pans, and cupcake pans. Thursday he went over and decorated them. His cake turned out AWESOME, and Benjamin and Max enjoyed the personal cakes Thomas made for each of them!! Thomas had a fun birthday. No big friends over shin-dig this year, just family cooking out and enjoying each other's company! A nice time , I thought, and Thomas seemed to enjoy himself, too!
Happy 15th Buddy! We love you and are SO proud of you!!

That's about all here. We are busy trying to finish getting ready for Abby Grace's arrival, and today is full of things to get done! I have a doctor's appointment at 1:45, and about a hundred errands to run and calls to make! Never a dull moment!