New Camera...messin' around...

So I've been saving up for close to a year and then combined with my birthday money (Ah, thank you very much), I was able to buy a new camera.  I'm not sure if I'll be any good at taking pictures, but I figure that a better camera won't hurt.

The kiddies aren't too fond of the flash, but once I read the manual (maybe) and watch the DVD (maybe) then I'll figure out all the settings...any hints???

We're baaaaaaaack!!!

We are officially equipped with a new laptop and a new camera so hopefully we're back for good now.  The biggest issue now is getting caught up on everything we've missed...

Crash...

...so at a time of year when I should be blogging feverishly, we are at a loss...our computer has crashed...again...OY!!!  Hopefully Santa will bring me a new one, but until then...AHHHHH!!!

St. Nick's Day

We celebrate St. Nicholas' Day by St. Nick coming and putting a small item in our shoes.  I don't know where this tradition came from or why we do it, but it's what we do.  St. Nick typically puts ornaments in our shoes for some reason...

Psssghetti

We had left over spaghetti and I figured it would be a fun thing to try out with the babies...especially because it was bath night...

Nate

 

Sam

 

 Ben

Let's go out to dinner and see a movie (yes, Trey would be proud)

Either we're completely nuts or we're completely confident in our children, I'm not sure which one is true.  Against most people's better judgement, we took the boys (yes, all 4 of them) out to dinner and a movie.  We wanted to go see The Muppets and we figured Eli would enjoy it and the babies might watch parts of it.  We have a place called Chunky's nearby.  Chunky's allows you to eat and watch a movie at the same time.  You are set up at long tables and seated in old Lincoln Limo bucket seats.  It's a lot of fun. 

We planned on the noon show.  This way the babies would be amused by eating and hopefully kept distracted and quiet during the movie.  We packed every forseeable item we might need...
-milk cups
-placemats
-bibs
-toys
-animal crackers
-graham crackers
-cubed melon
and against my better judgement...
-binkies.

It took us awhile to get everybody situated, but we got there 40 minutes early so we had plenty of time.  The babies sat in restaraunt high chairs at the tables.

We ordered appetizers and lunch for all of us and sat and waited.  The babies did a good job and played around while we waited for the movie to start.

Then...the previews came on...
They were mesmorized...transfixed...and completely enchanted by the screen.  I was hoping it would last the whole movie, but alas, all good things must come to an end.  Sammy was the only one not enjoying his special seat so we got up and walked around and then he sat on Dave's lap.  Ben and Nate were both completely content in their chairs.

I even caught them dancing to some of the catchy tunes during the movie.  Ben seemed to like the dancing chickens the best.

I think the whole thing went pretty well and considering the babies' tickets are free until they're 4 at this theater, we may be doing this more often...

Ben's Lungs...again...

So...Mr. Benjamin is at it again.  He is back on his nebulizer between 2 and 4 times per day. 

We find it easiest to get a treatment in while he's asleep.

He has also been approved for a 2nd round of Synagis.  Synagis is a shot that he needs to get 1x/month during the winter to help prevent (hopefully) him from getting RSV.  He was the only 1 of the 3 to be approved for this shot, most likely because of his lung issues.  People without Preemies (PwoP) don't understand what a big deal it is to get approved for this shot the first time, nevermind the second time.  It is almost unheard of to be approved for it 2 years in a row.  It costs $1000 per dose.  Ben needs 5 doses (November, December, January, February, March).  There are very strict regulations as to who gets it because of the expense.  We are also very lucky because we only have to pay $40 out of pocket for each dose because our insurance picks up the rest of the tab.  Last year, we didn't have to pay for any of the boys, but because Ben weighs more than two times what he did last year, he needs a much bigger dose.

We don't know why Ben continues to have these issues with his lungs. Could it be hereditary?  Dave had asthma until he was 12.  Could it be because he decided to pop his amniotic sac and then hang out for 2+weeks with no fluid?  We'll never know.  What we do know is how lucky we are that this is the only issue we have to deal with and we thank God for our healthy boys every single day.