Updates

Not too much going on this past week. Nothing exciting anyway. My niece Janie and I have been going to a personal trainer at the gym. Trying to get back into shape. I haven't lost any weight, but I am getting more toned, so I'm happy about that. Need to get back in shape, because I want to look good, and also I'm in a wedding (Dawn's) in Sept. and I have to squeeze into the bridesmaid dress.

Cassie is the first one to have have a tooth break through yesterday (bottom left). I knew it was coming soon b/c she was always chomping down on my fingers. Jim and I think she is going to be the funny kid. Everything she does, just the way she lays, rolls over all of the time, smiles, she just seems to have so much character. Thinking back, even in the hospital, we would always catch her smiling.

While the babies were napping last week, I set up the sprinkler for Alli. She had a lot of fun. She was a little apprehensive to get up close with the water in her face, but then she loved it. We just had fun playing outside and getting some sun.


Then we went to the hospital to see the babies. Alli wanted to look 'berry pretty', so she decided she wanted to wear make up. I think she did a great job. I thought it was so cute, that I didn't even make her wipe it off before we went.
Matthew (7/20/08)
Michael (7/20/08)

Jim went to the horse races last night for our friend Don's b-day. Toni came over to hang out and help out with the kids. We always have so much fun, just gossiping like we are still in high school! ha ha! Oh, and we watched Swingtown too.
Trying to get Jenna to sit up so when its time to take the helmet off, her head won't get flat again by laying on it so much. Jimmy is sitting up very well now and Cassie always lays like that. Toni says like a little bulldog :)

Welcome Meadows Babies!!!!

Ann and Tim had their twin baby BOYS on Friday morning (7/18/08) at 36 weeks.

Matthew Charles, 5lbs 9oz, 7:48am
Michael William, 6lbs 1oz, 7:50am.

They are so cute!! Matthew looks more like Tim and Michael looks more like Ann. Everyone is healthy and doing well, including Mom and Dad :) They have my camera, so I only have the picture I stole from their blog. If you want to check out their website, its www.timandannmeadows.blogspot.com.

Michael & Matthew
Now I'll backtrack to earlier in the week. Jimmy rolled over!!! Yeah! He also got a helmet two weeks ago. The girls had theirs first and we were seeing if Jimmy's head improved on its own at all, but it didn't, so we went ahead and got one for him. We had a helmet checkup last week. Cassie started at 1.2, then went to .8, and is now at .4. She said anything under .5 is good, but we won't take the helmet off until they can sit up on their own. So that is what I need to work on now :) Jenna started at 1.4, then went to 1.0 and is now at .8, so she is improving too. Jimmy was still at 1.0, so there was no change in the week. We go back in 3 weeks. Their heads look soooo much better. My cousin Jenny has been helping me with the last two appointments. It gets a little crazy in the waiting rooms sometimes :) Thanks Jenny! I know its exhausting!

Jimmy loving his new helmet and his new Jumperoo
Jenny holding Cassie---look at them blue eyes!
Jimmy sleeping so peacefully
My cousins came in from Poland to visit their sister in NY, and then stopped in NC, Nashville, and made their way to St. Louis for a few days. On Tuesday night, they came over and so did mom, Ann, Tim, cousin Jimmy, and Uncle Dan. UD bought us all some pizza and beer and we just hung out and played pool. They are so nice and fun.

Alicja and Chrissy (we were the winners!)
Ola and Jimmy were on the losing team
Our Polish cousins - Ola, Alicja, and Radek
Jimmy, Me, Jim, Ola, & Tim
On Wednesday, my mom and Ann watched the babies for us and we all went down to the Arch. We took Allison b/c she hasn't stopped talking about going up there for the past few weeks since we went downtown for a Cardinal game. She was so excited. Then we went to dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory on The Landing. Thanks for watching them and sorry we were gone so long. I'll blame Uncle Dan ;)
Daddy and Alli touching the Arch
Waiting for the elevator
First time going up in the Arch for Alli and Jimmy :)
Going UP - Alli loves to put her arms up on rides and when we go over bridges.
Looking at the wonderful view (which you can't see in this picture :)
We walked around the museum a bit too-Radek, Uncle Dan, Ola, Alicja, and finally, a picture of baby Victoria. She is so cute and such a good baby. It was good to finally meet her.
Ola at the Old Spaghetti Factory....this picture reminded me of Rose from Titanic
On Thursday, we all went over to Aunt Joan's house for a BBQ/get together so everyone could meet our Polish cousins. That was fun, but no pics b/c I forgot the memory card for my camera. We all just think its so neat that we met them and are keeping in touch with them. Hopefully next year we can visit them in NY or NC or even Poland.

And finally, the weekend. We finally took the babies to the pool and I even got Jim to come too! We were only there about 45 mins and the babies started getting tired, so Jim left with them and Alli and I stayed a little longer.
Cassie, Mommy, and Jenna
Look, proof that Jim actually came to the pool once this summer. Now we just need to get him there some more to work on that tan :)
Alli, getting ready to show Daddy how good she jumps
Jimmy and Jenna
Cassie
Dad on his way home

Another Elmo freak in the house

We were just playing around tonight and figured out that Jenna is also an Elmo freak, like her big sister Alli!


The puppet show, starring Cassie, Jimmy, & Jenna

Road Trip!

Well, after work Friday, we decided to pack up and take a road trip to Pawnee to visit Jim's family. We haven't been there since Cody's birthday, last September. It's about a 1 1/2 hour drive and the babies didn't start crying until about 30 mins before we go there. Of course, they all 3 cried for the full 30 mins! Poor Alli in the backseat...all she could say was, "Turn up the music LOUD!" We got to Kelly's house and just hung out. Jim's mom and dad, Jason and Kristen, and Amy all came by too. Alli had sooooo much fun playing with her cousins. She followed them around all night and wanted to play with all of their toys. The babies were pretty good. Its always easier on us when we have others around to help us hold and care for them, so Jim and I's night was less stressful than usual. They did cry though right when we got there. I guess they scared Nick off.....when Kelly found him up in his room, he said, I have ONE word, "whining babies", air quotes and all :)

Anyway, we just spent the night there, and in the morning, Kelly gave them all baths. Grandma G stopped by, then we went to Grandma and Grandpa's to show them off. Uncle Steve was there too, none of them have ever made it over to see the babies yet. I wanted to go swimming today, but it was cloudy and rainy all day. All I want is a tan and some time to go hang out at the pool :( Maybe next weekend! Tomorrow we are going to Ashley's birthday party. So, all in all, our road trip went pretty well - hopefully we will be able to make it to Nashville to visit Jackie and crew later this summer (we're still welcome, right Jack?:)
Cody and Alli
Cody and Alli
Cassie
Great - Grandma G and Jimmy
Nick, Alli, Cassie, Cody, Jenna, Makenzie, & Jimmy

Last Tuesday, cousin Jenny and I took the babies to dr. appts all day. It was a long day! I couldn't have done it without her. Jimmy got his helmet. Now he matches his sisters. He is adjusting to it well. Then we had physical therapy for all 3 of them for their tight neck muscles. Cassie and Jimmy are doing a lot better and can rotate their neck (almost) fully. Jenna still needs some work, so we need to be doing the recommended stretches with her more often. We have helmet checkups for all of them this Tuesday, so Jenny is going to come help out again, I think.

Also looking forward to my cousins from Poland coming to St. Louis next week. I'm sure I'll have pictures after they visit.

Wow! A lot has happened in a year! Look at all those babies!

So, today is 7-7-08. One year ago today, 7-7-07, my little sister Ann got married to her wonderful husband Tim. Happy 1st Anniversary to you guys!

Check out their blog.

This is Ann recently, swollen ankles and all :) They are expecting twins due 8/15/08, but she'll probably go any day now! We can't wait to meet the babies and find out what she is having!

And here is what has happened in the rest of the family! That's right----5 new babies, born within two months.
From left, Sully (my brother Brian and Gina's baby), Cory (my niece Katie and Cory's baby), and then my 3, Cassie, Jenna, and Jimmy. So, we are hoping Ann has her babies before 7/31/08 so they can all be in the same grade.

Sully and Jimmy hanging out together. Can't wait until Brian and Gina move back closer so all the kids can grow up together.
This weekend, our friends Chris and Susie came to visit us from Chicago. They are expecting their first child in October. They got lots of practice while they were here :)
We didn't do too much, it was a pretty laid back 4th of July weekend. Susie and I shopped a bit, Jim and Chris played XBOX, which wasn't much different than they do every night online :) I got a little time in at the pool and we grilled and had people over on Saturday night to watch UFC. We ate a lot too. On the 4th, I took Alli to Michael's house so we could watch the Hazelwood fireworks. You can see them from his front lawn. It was fun over there, just wish everyone could have went. Jim stayed home b/c the babies were sleeping. He and Chris and Susie lit off their own fireworks that they bought. Alli was still a little unsure if she liked the fireworks or not....she did, then she wanted to go inside, then she liked them again, etc. By the way, Alli is on my lap, not the girl in front! haha!
Alli and my great-niece Cali (Alli is 3 mos older)
Alli and Mom playing with some velcro ball thing. This picture doesn't do the story justice, but it was soooo funny. Alli kept getting it stuck and my mom had to keep helping her...I tried to video, but it was too dark. So, anyway, here is a picture of them playing together :)
All of the babies are starting to grab their toes a lot. I think its so cute. I'm not playing favorites, but Jimmy and Alli were the only ones awake when I took all of the rest of these pictures :)
Look at those legs!



On a sad note, Amy, Angela, & Courtney (Pearl Heart) did not receive enough votes to stay another week on Nashville Star. I'm so proud of them and thought they did awesome. I did cry and I feel so bummed out tonight since the show ended. I just can't believe that they are off the show. They are so talented. Anyway, I know they are going to take the country world by storm. They are moving on to bigger and better things! We love you guys! Sounds like Jeffrey Steele does too :) Can't wait to see you!

Good Luck Ladies!