Adjusting to life with 4 kids

10 days old.





So, I can't believe we are a family of six. Life is so busy with 4 little girls. Ages 5 and under. People look at me like I'm crazy when I tell them that. It's stressful and sometimes (usually) hard but I don't regret it. I know life changes quick and I try to enjoy my kids although my patience runs out quickly these days. 

I am on my special food allergy nursing diet. I eat NOTHING but squash, pears, turkey, rice, and potatoes. And I sneak in an occasional cookie without problem. I went on this diet the day I came home from the hospital. It's how I was able to nurse Ella. Aria has hardly ever cried while on this diet. But when I tried to eat peaches, she cried all the next day. Same thing when I tried wheat (full blown). But beef is maybe going to pass the test. Probably quinoa too, judging off last time. I'll tell you what though. It sure is worth it to not have a baby in pain all the time. It's a sacrifice I am willing to make. I don't have problems with nursing or milk supply or anything, never have. So I guess it is fair that I have challenges in a different way.

My biggest complaint is that it adds an extra challenge to have to feed myself separately than everyone else. It's time consuming and time is what I am always running short on. I feel hungry a lot. BUT, I also have to add that surprisingly I am not very tired. I don't have afternoon or evening energy crashes like I do on a normal diet. Whether its the lack of gluten or sugar I don't know but it's nice to not feel tired all the time.

Aria does get really fussy every night for 1-2 hours. She is basically really overstimulated and can't fall asleep. Nothing works except letting her cry until she's exhausted. She refuses to nurse and gets even more agitated. So letting her cry is sometimes my only option.  This is easier than its has been with any other baby, because I know she's not crying out of pain. I've also learned that I can't do anything to help, which is frustrating, but it also makes me feel a tad less guilty. I know she needs her sleep and crying hard is the fastest way to get there. When I try to bounce, pat, rock, sway, swing, soothe, etc, it only prolongs her inability to fall asleep. She is not like this during the day, only between 9 and 12 pm. 

Today she is 6 weeks old. This is supposed to be te peak of a babys fussiness. I hope so! She is so good during the day. She wakes up, eats (I only feed on 1 side per feeding). She takes about10 minutes and is done. She has been an extremely efficient nurser since day 1. Thankful for that! She eats every 2-3 hours. After eating, she is awake another 30 minutes or so. Annie and Ella both ask to hold her  many times a day. She starts to fuss a little after 45-60 minutes awake, an that's  a reminder that she needs to get back to sleep. I always Swaddle her to calm her, it works great, and I pop a pacifier in her mouth to get her to sleep.  But she doesn't fall asleep on her own. I've never had a baby do that. She does not like to be put down. She always protests. So I rely on Annie a lot who loves to hold her. Also, I do a ton of things one handed.  I have a Moby wrap but she doesn't like it very much. I think I have been wrapping it too tight. I will work on this. 

Ella loves her baby sis. She asks to hold her about 5 times a day. She has done well with the addition of a sibling and has only gotten a little more stubborn, bossy, and she hits me occasionally, but not very hard. She has gotten WAY more attached to her daddy, and he loves it. She still comes into our bed every night. She also goes to bed pretty late and doesn't think she needs much sleep. So we've taken away her naps several times a week. 

I have set up a daily summer schedule that is working for Kalia and Annie. We don't leave the house (not ready to brave any place with 4 kids) but the routine is nice. I had no choice but to finally start K and A on daily chores. Easy ones. Loading or unloading the dishwasher, One making their king bed. Also general toy pickup throughout the day. They have rest time every day from 1-3 in their room. They always destroy their room, but the rule is they can't come out til they clean the whole thing. For the first time in their lives they can do it without my help. 

Then we swim from 3-5 and then dinner bath and bed by 7. Then I spend the rest of the night trying to keep Aria happy. 

Me...I just feel stretched a bit thin. Never enough time. So much to do. I stayed  on top of general laundry and house maintenance until this week, when we started packing. That's right. We are moving. We are heading 5 minutes down the road to my inlaws house for the summer. Will write about that later. We have to be out by the end of June.

Here's a pic of her eyelashes.  Her face was so swollen for so long that we couldn't see any eyelashes (or lower eyelid for that matter) for quite some time.  She also has eyebrows, but they are so light, it's kinda hard to see them.