There's no place like home, there's no place like home

I got home yesterday, slept well last night and still feel like I've been "rode hard and put up wet". Nothing like babies to let you know how much you've aged. I told Paul last night that if I was offered $500 to spin one ounce of fiber I would have to pass it up. That should tell everyone how exhausted I was. Alllison was so insistent that she and Jim could take care of the three babies that are home. I think that last night proved how hard that could be. I hope anyway. I know that she wanted her house to herself and her family, but reality is that it is impossible for the two of them to manage without help. She even sent her own mother home. I feel so sorry for Jim. He is trying to run the household, take care of babies, and still go to work at the same time. Any bets on how long that can last? My vote is that it is already over. Yes I am angry and cranky. I will get over it.
The babies are delightful. Zachary has colic and is only pain-free if he is being held against a warm, calm tummy. Or in my Mom's case a very generous bosom. Reagan has some tummy issues too, but not as bad as Zachary. Jonathan is a laid back little dude. He sleeps while he is taking his bottle. Very little perturbs him. Thomas is improving and is taking half of his meals from a bottle now. He weighs over 6 lbs. As soon as he takes all his meals from the bottle he can come home. The pictures were taken on their 1 month birthday. Gotta go take a nap now. I wish Jim could.

country roads take me home

Well my journy through diapers and formula and colic ends tomorrow. Of course I will be coming back but for the moment I am longing for my own bed. My babies are wonderful and I love them dearly, but I am not cut out for rocking a crying baby for 4 solid hours while he has a tummy ache. Allison is getting better each day and her eyesight is improving but not yet good enough to drive. The church they attend has arranged for different ladies to come in on shifts during the day to help with laundry, feeding, and general chores and baby stuff. Different ladies every day through the week and three shifts a day. It is a wonderfully generous thing but I have some serious reservations. More when I get home.
Thomas is still in NICU but he is also improving. He is taking a bottle 4 out of 8 feedings a day. When he takes them all by bottle he can come home.
No new pics to post this time. Hopefully I can get some good ones today. Talk to ya later.

I have been in Knoxville for a week now. I am so used to looking after three babies that it feels "normal". That's scary. It's amazing how much you can accomplish on so little rest. Zachary has colic just like his Dad did. Jim needed to know that you cannot spoil 1 month old babies. Poor little thing NEEDS to have his tummy against someone warm and relaxed. He asked me and Mom how we did it. been there, done that, bought the T-shirt! We knew what it was and what to expect and we didn't have a work schedule to meet or cooking etc., so we could be relaxed and patient. Something first-time moms and dads have to learn. And boy is the lesson painful! For Jim it is twice as painful. He thought he could handle all of this on no rest or knowlege. He is learning.
Thomas is still in NICU. He is not in any danger, he just needs to catch up in the eating and breathing categories. He is improving slowly, like his mom. Allison is doing much better, but her eyesight is still not up to par.

It's time to pack up for my trip to Knoxville tommorrow. Ah sleep deprivation, how I have missed you! (giggle). Of course I am taking knitting projects and yarn. And in case of emergency, I am taking my drop spindle.
I will try to keep everyone updated. I am sure that Jim will fix it so that I can. He is one of my two computer gurus. Later, Pam

Bu-bye now.

My poor babies, (Jim and Allison) finally reeached the end of their ropes this week. I have been looking for it for some time now. Jim has realized that he literally cannot do and be all things to all people no matter how much he wants to and Allison lost it when she thought that she and Jim were going to be left alone with the babies and she still can't see. Her mother and sis are gong home this weekend and my mother and I will be goin up to Knoxville. I don't know why the heck Jim didn't hear me when I said I'd be there when he needed me. Maybe he heard and just didn't think I could be there. I don't know but they were very relieved to hear that I was coming to help. I will be there for 2 weeks. I will try to keep y'all posted. I know Jim hs a computer.
thomas is still in the hospital. His little jaw muscles still aren't strong enough to suck enough formula to keep him thriving. He has gained weight and weighs 5lbs 3ozs now. When he can take all his food from a bottle (instead of a tube) for 3 days in a row he can come home. Zachary has a touch of colic. I KNEW their was a reason he kept drawing his little knees up to his tummy and kicking. Jim had 6 month colic so I knew what I was seeing. (See, I knew Zachary was going to make Jim pay for his raising)
The congregation at mothers' church is collectiong diapers (or maybe gift certificates) for the babies. These nice people have been very supporting for the long haul and we cnnot thank them enough.

little time out

I went to see the babies on Saturday. Already they are developing distinct personalities. Zachary is fussy and spits out the pacifier and kicks off his blanket. Reagan will not sleep in the crib with the boys, preferring the vibrating bouncy seat. Jonathan is oblivious. He just eats and sleeps and is content to do so . Thomas is still lagging behind. Until lhe takes a bottle every four hours like the others he cannot come home.
I have been so busy with this blog and the other one that I just had to take yesterday off. A little computer time out if you will. But I am back with new pictures. The little blond cutey is Kinley, the quads' first cousin. She belongs to Allisons' sister Jody. she is a year old and absolutely delightful to be around. I got to feed and change Reagan while I was there. They are still so little that they aren't held for very long. They have still got some catching up to do.The pictures are of Reagan and Zachary. I don't know how I ended up with two pics of Reagan and none of Zachary. I will make up for it later.
The

All blogged down

Blog blog who's got the blog? I tried, I really did, to make the TF blog open to all the twisted friends. Not good the way I did it. Long story short: Lynne is helping me set up a blog (or setting one up herself) that we can all post on. Yipee!
I was such a bad girl at the retreat (diet-wise) that I am now paying for it. My feet hurt so bad I can't walk. Great excuse for sittin&knittin. Paul says I just (just?) have gout. Dunno. Never had it. Whatever the cause, I'm not going anywhere .
Three of the babies are coming home tomorrow morning. Jim says Thomas will soon follow. He is still in formula and sucking training. He is now in the crib with the rest of them. Aren't they adorable? Allison is still lacking about half of her eyesight. In perspective, she can't see well enough to put a key in a keyhole. Don't know if it will ever get better. But she is still with us and that was iffy for a while.
I am going to sit back in my recliner and pick up my needles now. Later. It's later now, like the next day, and this silly thing still isn't where I want it. Republishing.....

Happy Fourth

Hi everyone,
Happy Fourth of July. I got some pics of the babies today and thought I would share some of them.

I'm back

Well, I am home from Crane Hill and the Red Rooster Retreat. It was one of the best things to happen to me except the Quads. We all had a great time and added three new Twisted Friends to the ranks. We would have had four, but poor Terri wasn't able to come. Next time Terri? How about SAFF? How many of us can meet there? I am planning to be there.
If any of you want to keep up with the Twisted Friends, I have created a new blog for us. The addy is twistedfriends.blogspot.com. Please post comments and give me your feedback.
On a personal note: Little Thomas is off the respirator and is taking small amounts of milk with a bottle. He is still getting most of his nourishment through a tube but is improving daily. Allison still does not have her eyesight back totally. It may never come back but I am praying hard for her complete recovery. Please keep her in your prayers also. Here are some pics of our trip. Wish I could get the text under the pics but oh well.
If I left anyone out of the pictures I will get you next time somewhere. I need to knit now. Love.... Hmph! I have been trying since 9:00 this morning to get this post to show up. I am getting frustrated now.