Firefighters Beth and Matt

Much to Beth and Matt's excitement, they looked out their window during "nap time" (yeah right!) this afternoon, and spotted a firetruck right up the hill at the community center. They were having a kid safety day complete with a firetruck, a stranger danger talk from the police, and even a bounce house. Lucky kids, right? They were already all wound up from bringing their little sister home. Luckily for me, Big Matt took the afternoon off, so he took them up for a bit. Once the little girls woke up I took them as well. I thought they'd opt to spend the afternoon in the bounce house, but the firetruck was really the big hit for Beth and Matt. Carrie found a popcorn machine and that was her favorite, lol.

Oh happy day!

We brought little Katherine Ann home today. She is just 5 pounds 11 ounces of sweetness. :) She's had a great first day...hopefully that will carry over to tonight as well!

Sibling pictures

These are just too cute not to post. :) The kids all went to visit Katy this afternoon - she is twelve days old now. I can't wait till we can bring her home!

Beth and Matt checking her out...


My oldest and my youngest


And all the Tyson girls...it's going to be so much fun watching these three grow up together.

Our week

Today is Matt's last day of leave...he has to head back to work on Monday. I thought for sure we'd have Katy home by now, but no luck there. Hopefully next week I guess... In the meantime we have been trying to keep the other kids as close to their normal routine as possible, while also juggling multiple trips to the hospital each day.

The older kids spent a morning at the children's museum this week, an afternoon at the aquarium, saw Toy Story 3, went to the splash park, and visited their sister in the hospital a few times. Matt (bless him, he's braver than me!) took all three of them to see Katy this afternoon. We were going to put Carrie down for a nap and just have the older two go, but despite us only whispering about it in the other room, Carrie cried pitifully and said "I see Katy too!" So off she went...my spoiled little redhead! They love everything about the hospital from the parking garage, to the toys in the waiting room, to Katy's colorful bedding, to the food in the cafeteria. I'm glad someone is enjoying this! lol... When I took Beth the other day she said "We sure are lucky Katy came early! I like her so much already, and I would have been sad waiting till July to have her."

Anyway, here are a few children's museum pictures. I can't wait to have some pictures with all four kids! I don't even think it has really sunk in that we have four yet...I need to see them all together.

I love summer.

The first day of summer has finally arrived, although we have been enjoying warm weather for several weeks now. Our little garden is really doing well this year, although I've been slacking since Katy was born and it really could use a good weeding. We have tomatoes, peppers, and various flowers growing right now. The kids planted these flowers from seeds and have really enjoyed seeing them come in.


And look...we caught a little bug in this shot.



Here's Miss Beth and our tomatoes and peppers. These little plants have put out a crazy amount of tomatoes already...the peppers are just starting to come in. I will definitely be planting a bigger patch once we are out of a townhouse and have more space to work with.
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Katherine - 1 week old

I had hoped that Katy would be home by now, but she is still in the NICU. She is slowly making progress....maybe she will be with us next weekend.

A few days ago she came off of the c-pap and went onto the cannula. And just today she had her IV taken out and was able to wear clothes and move to a crib for the first time.

In order to come home she needs to learn to feed by mouth, get off the cannula, and not have anymore apnea (she hasn't had any in 24 hours!) That doesn't sound so hard does it? Come on Katy...we know you can do it!

She has also had a low grade fever these fast few days. The doctors have checked and checked for infection though and haven't found a thing. We are all just wondering if she runs hot. She looks so funny just laying there in nothing but a diaper most of the time. All the other tiny babies are bundled up from head to toe to try to keep their temperatures up.

Dance Recital

Beth and Matt had their dance recital last Saturday. Beth took princess ballet this spring, and Matt took a music and movement class. They both did a really nice job, and it was super cute to watch all the kiddos up there. I'm so glad I made it to see them because by that evening I was in L&D preparing for Katherine's birth.

Carrie LOVED watching the recital and clapped for and waved at all the dancers.


Look how big Matt is...he's almost caught up with his sister!

Our newest little one

Katherine Ann Tyson arrived June 13th at 4:04 pm. She was 19 inches and 5 pounds 11 ounces. She has dark brown hair and looks like her oldest sister Beth I think. She started having trouble with her breathing a few minutes after delivery and is still in the NICU now.

My two little fish!

Beth and Matt had their last swim lesson of the spring today! Hopefully I can get them back in lessons when we get to Mississippi this fall. In the meantime we'll enjoy going swimming at the lake this summer. They have both made so much progress, and they really have loved going. I tried to get a few pictures, but they didn't come out the best at the indoor pool. Not to mention there were nine splashing squirming kiddos in the frames.

new cat bed??

It looks like Eric is one of THOSE cats. You know...the ones who think all the new baby gear is for them. We've had several offenders over the years. Juliet liked the crib and baby swing, Jack slept in the infant car seat, and Romeo hid in the stroller. This will be Eric's first infant experience since he's still a baby himself...we brought him home on Christmas Eve. I'm just glad none of our kids have had allergies!

Mattisms

Ahh....life with a four year old boy!

I took just him with me to Target yesterday and he was so cute. He gets excited by everything he sees, but then never really asks me to buy him anything. (Unlike Beth who also gets excited, but asks for EVERYTHING!) But then we went past the bra department. And he was off like a flash! "Mom!!! Boobie things! Look at all these boobie things! Wow, look at all the colors! How come you only have white? Let's get a purple one and a pink one. When Beth gets older I'm going to buy her a present and it's going to be a pink boobie thing." Now if you know Matt you know he only has one volume, and it's LOUD. I could hear like 15 people laughing as I try to simultaneously shuffle him away from the bras, explain that buying your sister a bra for a present is a tad weird, and end the conversation.

Then this morning we went for a long walk, and I noticed that he kept staring at my middle. Finally he matter of factly said "Mom, a dot! That's probably Katy's nose." It's actually my poor belly button...which is sticking waaay out by this point.

34 weeks!

With my huge tummy and aching back I am finding it hard to think about anything else other than our impending arrival. I have a feeling she'll be here in the next month, but it could stretch into July. Her clothes are washed, diapers are ready, seat is in the car. Now I'm just trying to enjoy at least a few weeks of summer with my big kids before she gets here.

June

I wonder if little Katherine Ann will make her big appearance this month? She isn't due till July, but this is the most pregnant I have ever been. Either way I am excited about my little summer baby, and I'm looking forward to finally being able to hold some birthday parties outside! It's always hard figuring out something to do for the other kids' parties in January, February, and April. April might be okay once we leave Connecticut I guess!

Beth's dance recital is coming up in another week and a half...she is excited about that. I told Katy she has to wait at least until after the recital to show up! We have another birthday party to attend, the kids have two more weeks of dance, swimming, and gymnastics lessons, and then that is it until B and M start summer camp at the end of the month. I hope they like it...I have talked that camp up big time, lol. It's just a morning program through the Parks & Rec dept so I'm hoping it'll get them up and moving while I'm adjusting to life with four little ones.

We are still working on Beth's kindergarten program...I guess we will continue that until camp starts. It only takes like thirty minutes a day anyway, and then I usually spend another thirty minutes doing some other "school" activity with she and Matt or all three kids. I love that she can read now! Matt and I are both big time readers, and I hope all the kids come to be in time.

This is the splash park right up the hill....I think we are going to be walking up there a LOT this summer.


Bethie on a nature walk


Carrie at our Memorial Day picnic


Movie night!


Another Goodwill find....think this can pass as a math activity? lol...