Happy Birthday Lucas & Daddy!

I'm falling a little behind (in most things!) lately..so now that I have a chance to add some pictures, I am. :)

My big 6 yr old! He's such a loving little boy. I just remembered, when John brought them to the hospital last month to see their baby brother Eustace for the first time, we were all talking about how many babies we have and how he's my biggest baby and needs to help etc. And he said, "I'm not the oldest baby. Teddy is." I was surprised, but I guess I shouldn't be--L & O remember a lot of things I forgot I told them. Theodore (Teddy) was the name I chose when John and I got pregnant in NY in 2006, but we ended up miscarrying.  

The birthday bunch (except Franco) with their gifts from John's family. Below L & O are wearing the cute sweaters they sent: 

   Lucas and John had their birthdays a week and a half ago. All 3 of them went to a hockey game while I stayed home with the babies. They even rode the train together down to Dallas--of course Olivia caught a cold most likely from it, so now all the kids are sneezing and snotty. Low grade fevers. I am paranoid about germs and getting the flu, but I know it sometimes makes their immune systems stronger to battle colds, and this one isn't too bad.

I've been letting Eustace nap during the days on his tummy propped on the boppy pillow to help his reflux. He really likes it. I think it would get frustrating to always be in the same position in the swing or bouncer. He appreciates the changes in position. :)

Had to slip one in of my Eusty :) Getting bigger and eating more every day. It has been challenging to pump every 4 hours or so, but I am committed to keeping my supply up for as long as possible. I already have 250 oz of frozen breastmilk in my supply too. 

When I am too busy with the babies and I don't want cartoons or video games on, I put pandora on and they can find something quiet to do--Lucas worked on this puzzle for at least an hour--he's my introvert. 

  I am slowly getting back into doing school with them but our daily schedule is still pretty messed up..I won't tell you what time I really get up if the 2 babies allow. Good thing we are already ahead in our third quarter. Lucas actually just started learning multiplication...crazy to me, since he would still be in kindergarten in school. But after a few tears, he perked up and said "this is fun!" He is anxious to learn what division is, but I am not anxious to teach it. He's doing well in reading too.

Lucas' first try at multiplication 

    Olivia is actually beginning to read on her own now and she picks up math pretty quick too. I hope to get them both back into soccer and gymnastics and possibly add in music lessons soon too. It kind of depends on John's work schedule possibly changing back to shiftwork :( Should find out soon.

Tried to take all 4 out to play the other day...was too cold to stay out long, but the temperature varies dramatically daily here in TX.

   Here is his cool gift from his Godparents in PA. It's a fun doodle book with half-drawn pages to let them finish. I will have to take pictures of their work soon!

Thank you Eileen & Chuck!

  I have been looking for more ways to boost our immune systems through flu season, and so we went to a farmer market in Mckinney last weekend. We bought some gluten free meatballs, tamales, pickles, and John got some local wine and coffee. Then I picked up some produce from a farm in Denton--fresh greens and carrots for my bone broth. We were too late to get any meat from Dominion Farms, but we intend to go to the actual farm in Dennison in the spring to get good grass-fed beef, organic chicken and eggs.

No pictures of the actual market, but here are the goats they had in front--Frankie LOVES animals now and it was fun to watch them feed these 2 greedy goats.

The roasted chicken, carrots and these sweet potatoes were really good too. It was a lot faster to roast slices rather than bake them whole--and the kids liked the consistency better. 

     I have been roasting organic whole chickens lately with carrots, onion and garlic, and then saving the carcasses for bone broth. I looked at a few recipes and basically I just put all the bones in a big crockpot with water, apple cider vinegar, leftover vegetables clippings, onions, garlic (skin and all) and a little seasoning. You let it simmer for 24 hours (yes a whole day) and by that time the bones just fall apart because the marrow and nutrients are sucked out of everything and left in the broth, which is supposed to be excellent for preventing and treating viruses. I still haven't got it to taste really good (Susan loves it though) but I have used it to make rice and it's pretty good. Lucas drank some of it today because he wants to get better, but it's not good enough to drink a whole cup. I will have to find more ways to make it better. I had left some lemon in it(was stuffed in the chicken when I roasted it) but it kind of made it like hot and sour soup...or like tea, with a little chicken :P I'll work on it. At least it's still very nutritious!

The vegetables and chicken bones I had saved. Shouldn't have left the lemon in though. 

The bone broth almost done. I strained it and put it in a big bowl in the fridge. Should last the week. I froze it in freezer bags last time, but they leaked in fridge when defrosting. I read people use mason jars but it seems difficult to do that and cool it quickly to put in the freezer without breaking them. Defrosting the amount you want seems to be the challenge too--I think the best idea was ice trays--then you can defrost what you need. But you need a lot of  trays and freezer space!

    I also make fruit smoothies with all the supplements (vit b, c powder, D, echinacea, elderberry syrup and lithy tree. Everybody likes taking vitamins in a smoothie :) I also ordered a diffuser with essential oils (thieves is supposed to ward off illness too).

Phew! I got some updates in!