A few quick updates!

Wow - what a week! Ellie is no longer the docile little cherub she was in the first few hours of getting here. She is having some tummy issues and just some general medical issues that are causing her to be fussy and need lots of attention. She is beautiful, smiles sweetly all day and keeps us up ALL night. She is the hardest kind of baby because she does not want to be held or comforted she simply cries, screams and yells 23 hours a day and there is nothing we can do to make her feel better. We changed her formula and have a pediatrician appointment next week so hopefully things will get straightened out but in the mean time I am completely and totally overwhelmed during the day. I have relied heavily on friends and family to come over and hold a baby so that Annie can get some attention and Lizzie, bless her little heart, has turned into a happy smiley baby just in time for the next wave of sleep deprivation and crying. I keep repeating to myself that "This too shall pass." Bob and I are functioning on 2 hours of sleep and lots of laughter - like the other night when I, very grumpily, yelled at him 4 times to go get Annie (who was crying b/c of ear pain) until I finally looked over and relaized that he was not in bed with me but in the living room rocking Ellie back to sleep for the 5th time that night. We had a good, hold your gut, laugh over that one at around 2 a.m. My husband is a saint. When we did Best and Worst at dinner last night Bob's best was the 5 minute nap he took in his car while going through the drive through during lunch - he was obviously joking but we both got a little punchy! At one point while making dinner last night I wrapped my arms around Bob's shoulders and kind of hung there resting - Peter walked in and asked why we always have to get lovey dovey and we both dissolved into laughter - there was nothing lovey dovey about it - just a need for some physical support to be able to get through dinner. So there you have it - chaos reins again and we keep reminding each other how blessed we truly are!

My friend Lisa came over to meet Ellie and brought us a yummy dinner.

Lizzie learned to reach for a toy! Our baby girl is getting so smart and growing up so fast!

Peter "babysat" for Lizzie yesterday while I made dinner. I was so proud of him - he held her for a while and then put her down and played with her and finally he rubber her head until she fell asleep. She absolutely adores her big brother and he was amazing with her! What a lucky Mommy I am!

"Mommy, you're embarrassing me!

Our newest little angel! She doesn't do this often but when she does it makes my heart swell! She is so beautiful and looks so content!

Annie loves her tubby!

Checking out the snow after her tubby! What a face!

Lizzie sticking her tongue out at Mommy after her bath!

My parents came over after dinner last night and Annie somehow convinced my dad to take her for a walk! By convinced I mean brought him his shoes and coat and pointed toward the door.

My beautiful girl ready for a walk with her Papa.

Lots of people have been asking what they can do to help. If you have 6 hours of sleep in your pocket I'll take it but more realistically we don't NEED anything but if you happen to have any of these things we would love to take advantage of you!

1. Time - if anyone likes to hold babies and wants to come grab a kid in the morning between 8:30 and noon or 3 and 5 stop over or call. Ellie cries constantly so there is a great deal of time when I have to let her cry while I take care of Annie or Lizzie and in the afternoon I have to make dinner and do homework with the big kids!

2. Cribs - we need 2 cribs for the 2 new babies - if anyone has a basement full of junk that might have a crib in it we would love to borrow it. In our house bedrooms are pretty much for sleeping so it doesn't really matter what it looks like or how old it is!

3. Activities for the big kids - especially on the weekends - Peter and Molly are amazing but they, more than anyone else, are getting the short end of the straw right now. The newborn stage doesn't last long but it is hard to do much else with two of them in the house so the big kids end up without a whole lot of attention from Mom and Dad.

Thanks again to everyone who has been bringing meals, calling to check on us and especially holding babies or playing with kids!Whenever Bob and I wonder how we are going to do this we look no further than the photo albums filled with friends and family who offer their unconditional love and support on a constant basis.

GNM - ILY!