Sunday, September 14, 2008

High Waters

Just a little update to let you all know we're alive and well. We've had some major flooding over the last couple of days (I know you Gulf-Coasters are rolling your eyes right now and thinking "CRY-BABY"). I'm sad to say our basement has not fared well. We've never had a leak in the past 3 years that we've been here but, unfortunately, it's all soggy now. It seems I've inherited basement bad luck from my parents. I don't even know where to begin!

On a positive note, the babies enjoyed watching all the rain come down. They've been in such good moods lately and are so fun to play with! Their curiosity and SPEED amazes me. I'm sure Forrest has sustained around 50 concussions so far, as his favorite play space is on the brick fireplace hearth, the coffee table corner, the entertainment armoire, the tile floor, the wood floor, the sliding back door, his siblings' noggins, and just about any other hard surface imaginable. We've joked about it in the past (because his crib is under the window), but I really might start making him wear a helmet before he does any real damage....to his head or the furniture.



Above: Forrest with his first "goose egg". Below: The red mark is just another head injury sustained. No big deal.

Forrest gets himself into the damndest positions! Of course we had to catch the photo op before rescuing him from Danna's rapid torpedo toes.






The Laine-Train has the need for speed, just like his Great Uncle Jim, Godfather J.D., and cousin, A.J. He's the sneaky little turd who is GONE if you look the other way for 2 seconds (remember the stairs story). I don't know how many times Billy and I have said, "Where's Laine?" I can totally picture him being the one who goes behind the barn to do ornery things when he gets a little older. His current favorite recreational activity is pulling all the candles off the bottom ledge of the hallway stand. I have since evacuated those items to higher ground.




Pius has been a bit fussier than normal. Pretty sure he's getting ready to sprout some chompers like Forrest.....or he's reverting back to his younger days. It seems that as long as I keep him high on Ibuprofen/Tylenol, he does alright. He finally started to army crawl a couple days ago. It's not very pretty, but he assures me that it's a work in progress.






Pius showing Danna his super-sexy cleavage


And Danna.....sweet Danna. She gets up on her hands and knees and does the rocking thing. She's taken a few "steps" forward but then goes back down onto her tummy. She's getting there! Normally, the Banana is a few weeks behind the boys on physical development, and crawling is no exception. It's probably because she's so darn cute and manipulative that she can get anyone to pick her up with "the look". Out of all the babies, she is probably the best eater. She can pack away 2 full Gerber containers in one feeding....PLUS some. The boys have their days, but Danna is all about consistency.





Billy continues to amaze me with his determination and utter lack of sleep. He's at WSU Monday through Friday for classes, then goes to QT for work until 10pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays. He always has the day's bottles ready in the morning before leaving and the dishes done (that's a nonstop chore). He misses the kids so much when he's gone and is always ready to play if he gets home before bedtime. He was SO ready to be a daddy when we got pregnant and has shown that he'd do anything if it means it will benefit our children and me. Like I said....he amazes me.

Billy and me towards the END of friend/Forrest's Godfather/Frank the Tank/Goertz/Brad's wedding. CONGRATS Brad and Liz!


I continue to work as a nurse in the ER two nights a week. I'm usually signed up to be "on-call" for our hospital's Transport Team on the nights I don't work. That means that if we have a patient that needs to be admitted to the hospital (from the separate, free-standing ER) for whatever reason, I'm the nurse who rides in the ambulance and takes care of them until we get them to their hospital room. I think there have been about 2 days out of 16 when I wasn't called in. We stay pretty busy. Of course, NONE of these extra shifts would be possible without all of our helpers....you know who you are and, I hope, how much we appreciate you! Thank you!

About the pictures.....thanks to an anonymous tip, the photos should be more clear from here on out. As it turns out, fingerprint smudges on the lens tends to produce crappy pictures. I'm really not that stupid, I just didn't put two and two together. And to think I was considering returning my camera. Sheesh. I definitely have my moments and Jaclyn was right about ONE thing: Stupid is as stupid does.

QUICK! Snap a photo...They're all together.

Within about 3 seconds, Forrest is upward-bound, Laine is downward-bound, Pius is fussing and Danna is pretty much in the same position (there's that consistency, again)


Another discovery! The quadsies really, really like gumming all over pretzel rods. A little messy but infinitely worth it. We snapped a few shots of them sucking on their salty morsels of goodness while at our friends' wedding (Congrats Chris and Donna!).

A famous Forrest and Mama self-portrait (the cut off head is also typical)



Danna with her Grammy Vicki



Laine-o with his Grampy Stubby



Pius with our good friend Teddy V. Pius is asking for tips on beefing up since he fell behind Forrest at the last weigh-in.

It's been awhile since I've posted any bath pics, so here are a few fun ones. I put all 4 in at once only because my sister, Rachel, was there helping me. Normally I just do 2 at a time. Those little suckers are slippery when wet!



Whew! That was a hard day of playing and bathing! Laine wants to personally thank "Hooter" and "Scooter" for providing a most wonderful place to take a nap!

Have a great, lazy, football Sunday!

~Moni~

22 comments:

Andrea said...

What a great way to start my birthday with a new post!! Thanks for so many pictures and videos. They are all so darn cute. Can't wait to see all of you sometime! Love, Andrea

Hilary said...

Those babies are everywhere!! How fun! they are super cute as always!!

Anonymous said...

Love the pics and the videos! What a bunch of cuties! You guys are so fortunate to be blessed with such a wonderful happy healthy family. Hope to see you all soon.

Linda N

Anonymous said...

I love your kids so much. They are absolutely adorable. You guys are doing an awesome job with them!!!

Anonymous said...

Thank-you so much for sharing. You are both so awesome. I can't wait to get back into the grind of things, and see those little darlings more often. I miss the both of you also. Grandpa stubby and Grandma Vicky are so proud. It was so neat to see the joy on their faces, when they talk about them. Love you all! Aunt Donna

Anonymous said...

Ummm, really Moni?!?! Hooter and scooter have not been brought up since highschool thanks to Sergio. But great post anyway...i guess. It was fun playing with them, not so stressful anymore! (minus 3-400 bruises and falling overs!)Love you guys!
Aunt RayRay

Suzanne said...

moni-they are just absolutely precious!!! those eyes....good gosh. and the little princess is SO cute! love the pic of you and the hubbster...much love and hope you guys "dry out" very soon!!!

EMO said...

Wow! Thanks for the great post! Such cute pictures!!! Yep, I think you had better be lowering those crib matresses, if you haven't already! Good luck with the teething :( Also good luck with the basement- that sucks.

Ashley Wasser said...

Hi there! I just love your captions...Pius' cleavage shot was pretty HOT! I'm so sorry your basement is leaking! I bet it is a complete mess. Hopefully everything will be taken care of by insurance. Our girls sound like they can put down a few...Lexi can easily eat two stage 2 containers and more if I'd let her. Thanks for the new post and oh yeah, your boys played well today!

Jac Tubre said...

Good grief woman, what a post!

I love all the videos and I can't wait to see those critters again one day. Who knows, I may just show up at their 1st birthday party with my girls (Danna needs some sistas!). All the crawling is too cute and Danna will be there in no time. She just wants Tyger to go first so he doesn't feel bad. He is doing alot more crawling and less skydiving lately :). I love the bath pics! That made me remember I have some from our vacation that I never posted. Too bad my laptop crashed with a nasty virus (I am on DeeDee's right now).

Keep on keeping on woman and don't work too hard!

Love you lots - and Big Bill too,
Jac

Charity Donovan said...

OMG...they crack me up! The picture of Forrest UNDER the Excersaucer cracks me up...we have one of those little dudes as well! Our little Nathan's head looks like one big bruise! It's terrible isn't it? But one mom can not be in 4 places at the same time so somebody is always paying the price for curiosity around here!

Beth said...

What a GREAT post!! They are all getting so big and just too darn cute!! The eyes those babies have! :) Love it!

Andria said...

Awesome post Moni. You amaze me. I'm glad you are safe from the storms and hope your basement will dry out soon! The kiddos are too stinkin' adorable! I think Forrest is ready for a football helmet! Poor guy. LOL. I can just hear the "conk" now!

Stay safe!

The Carlsons said...

awesome post! love the pics and video...i agree with the picture of forrest under the saucer and the video of them holding their bottles (amen to that!). and how fast they are! oh, gotta love those babies :)

hope things dry out for you soon!

-fellow quad mom of GGGG and a 4yo boy

Rebecca Jo said...

Your babies are just the cutest thing! I'm sure they keep you running!

Anonymous said...

Whyt guy in Fl said....

Ok I know some of you thought the same so of course I'll be the one to bring it up.


Rachel playing with Hooter & Scooter not being so stresfull anymore. Yes I know Monica, dirty old man. Tell me no one else read her post and caught that.

Now that I have Monicas attention. I haven't spoke with you since you got all over with me about one stinkin bean. (Don't mess with a bear and her cubs)But like I told Billy last night you two are still the bomb and I bow to your greatness. Keep up the good work.

Billy I don't think I have ever been so pissed about a Bronco win.

Anonymous said...

Hahaha....playing with the babies all day silly. No further explanation needed.

Moni Graf said...

Sorry Rach...I couldn't resist! You're just too booby-licious! Thanks for all your help the other day.

Love ya,
Moni

Anonymous said...

Ok Grafs...I am so jealous you got all four of your babies to hold their bottles and I can't get even one to do it. I know it is probably my fault because I don't work with them but my life would be so much easier if they would learn!! I love all the videos...it gives me a good idea of what is to come when Ethan takes off. Your babies are so adorable. Keep those videos and pictures coming, I just love to hear all about your stories. Crystal Hanson

Shelia said...

What CUTIES! I just love that blonde hair Pius is starting to sport. And little Danna looks just like the a little diva in charge! I cannot believe how much they've grown. Thanks for sharing the great video footage too (it still gets giggles out of the girls!). Take care and you're still my idols!

Shelia

P.S. Sorry to hear about your basement. Who would've thought central Kansas would get 10+ inches of rain so quick?

P.S.S. My Chargers LOST! And to the Broncos... That STINKS!

Misty said...

Moni,
THe pics & videos are great. I do hope you dry out soon. That has to just suck! Glad you got your package. The stationary is actually a photo of the girls' feet and made into stationary. The photographer who came to the house to take the pics did them for us. I love them! But I only use them for special people!
Take care,
Misty

Moni Graf said...

Awww, you're so sweet, Misty! I figured all those tootsies belonged to you. Maybe I'll get finger paints and let the babies walk all over one side of a stack of papers. Then I can use the other side to send notes. Kinda like the monkey or elephant artwork at the zoo!

Love ya,
Moni