CALEBS 4!
Happy Birthday Caleb!!! You made it, I made it, we survived 4 years!! Looking back I have to laugh at all the crazy, funny, tough, and emotional challenges we have been through together. You were such a handsome baby, weighing 6 pounds 2 ounces and gaining an entire pound the first week you came home. Your weight gain continue from there and you became a handsome big chub!

You were a great eater and very healthy. You never had a cold/sneeze/cough but you were very colicy and cried all the time.

I loved all of your redish brown hair and was sad when you lost it all!
You had great form with push ups!!! And your facial expressions constantly had us laughing!You skipped right over 6-9 and 9-12 month clothes. You started walking at 13 months and you would slide down the stairs quickly on your stomach!

Spring of 2007 you went from running around the house to not being able to breath in a matter of hours. Being transferred immediately from SMMC to Children's Mercy Hospital in an ambulance, 3 intense days of praying with no improvement and drop in your 103 temperature, medication that wouldn't work, surgery, a blessing by dad, and 3 additional days later with little improvement. Your life seems to fragile and I would have given anything for the little colicy baby that drove me crazy and always made a mess. With another change in your medicine, mulitple prayers, and 24 hours later your temperature was normal and you were out of bed walking around!! Of course they wanted to keep you in the hospital for an addition 24 hours but once they realized you weren't going to stay in bed, be quiet, and rest they had no choice but to kick you out!!! It took 2 weeks for you to go back to your normal, hyper, always into everything self but I wouldn't have wanted you any other way!

You loved balls, cars, Boynton, and Uncle Nate. You were always into the desitin, you never slept through the night, and you were potty trained in less then 3 days! You were/are scared of small dogs, you dislike peas, and love cheese balls!

Now that you are 4 and have started Preschool I wonder were the years went. How did I go from being 20 with a colicy sleepless baby to being 24 with a sweet, crazy, happy CALEB! You are always the first to tell me you love me, the first to make a mess, and the first to tell me your hungry (usually about every 30 minutes)! With life so fragile and passing so quickly I feel so lucky, humbled, and blessed to have such a great KK! Happy 4th Birthday buddy!

The first week of forever

Before I start talking about all the NEW CHANGES I want to give an update of Tate. Call him what you like TD, Tater Tot, Baby Tate....
He gained 4 ounces in 2 days and the doctor said he is healthy and active!
He hates having the hick ups and he hates lightning/thunder.
He seems tolerable to all the kisses and constant hugs distributed at a non-stop pace by Caleb/Ainsley/Aubrey.
He loves the small portable swing and mini bouncer.
Most exciting is the periodic smiles and laughs. Believe it or not but we have it on video!!! He is a very happy baby and his smiles are NOT gas but pure love for his mom!! Andy didn't believe me at first (or Caleb who saw and heard too) but finally at 2am he witnessed it for himself!
He still smells new and perfect, he loved his first bath, and he rarely cries.
He sleeps in the van, likes the car seat, and absolutely loves his mom!!

Now onto the exciting changes and Griner firsts!
After what seemed like the shortest summer of my life we decided to enroll Aubrey in Kindergarten. We had been deciding back and forth all spring/summer until we finally agreed after weighing all the pro's/con's. Andy took her to a group Parent Teacher Conference to meet Mrs. Talb and some of her classmates!! I never realized how many rules there were in kindergarten and how "on top of my game" I was going to need to be. Aubrey was so excited, Andy was calm, and I was completely nervous.

Wednesday morning came. It was dark and raining like crazy!!! She was instucted to wear brown on her first day because they would be learning about the color brown. Trying to talk Aubrey into wearing brown was close to impossible but after 4 outfit changes she wore a brown tank top under her shirt with brown shoes. She was so excited!!! Andy dropped her off and I waited by the phone. I thought (HOPED) the school would call saying Aubrey needed her mom:) But 10:00am passed, 11:00am passed... no call. Not being needed is a weird feeling.

Ainsley...what a funny girl. She wanted her elmo underwear on over her diaper. After realizing she could not see elmo with her pj's on she wanted elmo underwear on over her pj's. She will start potty training on Monday....ELMO seems to be the key. We will see!3:00 came quickly and Ainsley was excite to go pick up Aubrey!Caleb was excited because after we picked up Aubrey he got to go to his Parent Teacher Conference at his pre-school with Mrs. Susan! He already knew Mrs. Susan because Aubrey had her last year!!! Poor Mrs. Susan:) With Caleb's personallity so much louder/busier then Aubrey's we worry that she will be picketting outside of the pre-school demanding a raise after a week!!!

Picking up Aubrey was exciting. It was neat to see her walk out of the school by herself with her little coat and backpack. She talked about all she had learned and who she had met. I was lucky that Andy was able to get off work early to come and take pictures!! She talked about recess, music time, and what she had for lunch.




THURSDAY, A DAY LIKE NO OTHER!!!

I knew this morning, THURSDAY AUGUST 20th, was going to be a day to remember. It was going to be different and life changing. I was ready for it, even with only 2 hours of sleep I was looking forward to August 20th, 2009!!

I helped Aubrey get ready for school dressed in red (requested by her teacher because they were learning about red) with the begged for pony tail (very unusual because Aubrey wouldn't wear a pony tail all summer..."But everyone has pony tails at Recess Time, Mom!"). After Andy/Aubrey were out the door I climbed back in bed, how glorious!!! By 8am Caleb was up and excited!!! His first day of Pre-school was starting in just 4 hours!!!All morning that is all he talked about. His 2 year old friend Noland called him at 11:00 and wished him good luck! He posed for a picture (of course he wanted one FIRST with just his backpack showing).
Last week when we were at Wal-Mart Caleb walked down the crowded isle of $7.00 backpacks. Have you seen the backpacks they have for little boys?!!!! Beyond scary...pictures of super hero bad guys with sharp teeth and green goop coming out. What happened to Deigo or Cars?? I would have even let him get a Sponge Bob one..but nope. Andy finally talked him into a Transformer one that lights up when you walk! He had to sleep with it last night:)

All morning he drove me crazy. When does school start? Where's my backpack? Can I sit by the new baby in the van? How do you say good luck in spanish? Will I go to school every day? Will my friend be there? Can I hold the hampster?? The ENDLESS string of questions followed me around the house all morning. He was too excited to hold still for a good picture.
Finally 11:50am came. With everyone ready we walked outside to get into the van. It was the usual Thursday afternoon...Frank was walking Mandy, Bill was outside in the drive way smoking 2 weeks worth of trout, and Bud was pulling into the drive way after spending the morning playing golf. I couldn't believe how normal/predictable this Thursday was... but 20 minutes later we pulled into the pre-school parking lot and the teacher opened the van door. Caleb excitedly jumped out and then closed the door. My life was instantly different, the day had instantly changed. Caleb was on his own and for as happy as I was I started to feel a little sad. Doesn't anyone need their mommy??!!? Of course, I cried all the way home (poor Ainsley was crying too...half because she always cries in the car and half because she was being left behind). When I got home it felt so weird. I put Ainsley down for a nap and fed Tate....how quiet the house was.Picking Caleb up from his first day of pre-school was funny. He didn't have his shirt on (thank goodness I put a tank top under his shirt) because according to Mrs. Susan "Caleb was so hot even his head was hot!" When Andy immediately asked Caleb what he learned at school he said, "I didn't learn anything at school!" He went on to talk about "icky, sticky, oooie, gooie milk"?!! Weird!!! But he made it and Mrs. Susan said he did great!!!

This year life will be different. I feel extremely humbled and oddly old. Have I taught my kids everything they need to know, have I shown them through example, and have I told them how proud I am and lucky I am to be their mom? I know they will do great!
This is the start to a whole new adventure for the Griner Family!

Welcoming Tate Delton Griner

Getting "Everything Up to Date in Kansas City!"

After 9 months of ALL DAY morning sickness, 4 months of heart burn, 5 weeks of Braxton Hicks, 2 1/2 weeks on bed rest, extreme swelling, a TIA, and 2 hours, 2 minutes of labor... I would like to announce the birth of TATE DELTON GRINER.

He was born at 11:32 am
weighing in at 7 pounds, 1.5 ounces
18 inches longIt is amazing to think how I can so instantly and endlessly love. It's as if I've had him forever when just seconds ago he entered my life. All pain seems to instantly dissolve replaced by compassion and gratitude. He is perfect in every way and I am so glad he is healthy. He got a little banged up/swollen on the way out but NO cone head!!! After things settled down at the hospital we called my mom (who drove up all the way from Florida to help out since I was high risk) and after they stopped at McDonald's for a celebration lunch they arrived at the hospital. We were not sure how to handle Ainsley becoming a big sister. She is a really clingy "almost" 2 year old and we did not want to go about this the wrong way. After much advice from Andy's co-workers we decided that when the kids entered the room the baby would be in his little bed so I could hold Ainsley and introduce her to Tate. All of my worry was relieved when she held Tate. She loved him instantly and became the extra over protective BIG sister.Caleb's exact words were "Can I hold my baby brother now, please!"Aubrey was THRILLED!!!After my mom took her share of pictures it was her turn to hold the baby....which turned into holding everyone!The second time the kids came to visit, Ainsley was ready with a teddy bear, a gift from Andy's boss, and the camera case for lots of pictures! (Ainsley's hair is out of control!!!!)Also, the second time the kids came to visit, Tate was a little more active. Every time he stretched, the kids got so excited...like Christmas! So, you can only image how excited they got when he opened his eyes!!!!

Caleb thought the new looking pacifier the hospital provided was awesome! He loved how he could stick his finger inside and feel the baby sucking on it!! I was a bit delighted that Tate willingly took the pacifier. We have never really had a "pacifier" baby before.

Tate kept sucking on his thumb. I am not sure how he kept getting it in his mouth. Accident or not I had to get it on camera so Andy would believe me!!

Andy's first time feeding Tate! He is a great eater!!!
He was perfect and wonderful in the hospital. We had to stay an extra 24 hours b/c of my high blood pressure and abnormal lab results but it gave me an extra 24 hours alone with Tate!!

Coming home from the hospital!!! Loading 4 kids up in the nicely cleaned/scrubbed out van was very nerve racking to me. 4 kids...there was no going back now! The kids were very excited though!!
A special thanks to my dad: 2 weeks ago my parents/sister stopped by for a day before heading all the way home from their trip to Idaho. While they were here my dad spent over an hour cleaning out our van. Thank you!

Little Tate!

Aubrey drew a picture of her family...Dad, Mom holding her brother, herself, Ainsley, and Caleb!

Night #1 at home! At about 2:30am I went downstairs to take some medicine for the pain in my hands. Come to find out I was followed by Caleb!! He sneaked up behind me and started talking.

He said, "I am always starving. Because I am always starving I would like cereal and a candy bar."
I wasn't quite sure how coherent he was. After 2 minutes of him saying how he was hungry all day long and had dreams about being hungry all night, I talked him into yogurt and a nectarine. He is so weird some times.

The kids were up bright at early the first morning Tate was home. Who will feed him first? Who will burp him first? Who will change him first? Who will hold him first??

I am not even sure the kids slept because they were so excited to see Tate in the morning!!

By Morning #2, to my surprise, the kids excitement still hadn't worn off even with the upcoming doctors appointment only hours away!! In the doctors office, Ainsley was very protective of Tate and Aubrey cried the minute we went into the little room. Aubrey's tears were purely selfish though. Since I was not pregnant anymore that meant that not only would Tate be getting a check up but Aubrey would be getting her Chicken Pox Vaccination. I had taken her to get all of her Vaccinations for Kindergarten the week before but they wouldn't give her that one because I was pregnant. Weird! Tate didn't cry at all and seemed to enjoy being naked!!! In the 2 days he had been home he had gained 4 ounces. WHAT A CHUB!!

After the doctors appointment we headed over to the Missouri side to get gas ($.10 cheaper per gallon) and since Missouri was doing TAX FREE weekend we got all of Aubrey's school supplies. I might add that "back to school" mom's on the only tax free Saturday of the year are crazy. After shopping we headed back home so I could continue "required" bed rest (I was aloud to come home from the hospital granted I say in bed until my Monday's doctors appointment).

Saturday afternoon Paul/Marlene drove up to see TATE, fix a nice dinner, and Paul helped Andy fix the front door. After trying everything possible to fix the front door they headed to Home Depot and Paul bought us a new handle. After a week of not being able to use the front door and almost 4 hours of intense door handle installation by Paul/Andy we can now use the front door!! I love the new handle, thank you Paul!
**special side note.... (before the door handle was fixed) When Andy came with the kids to pick me up from the hospital he forgot to unlock the sliding door in the back. When we got home from the hospital we were locked out and Andy had to shimmy Caleb through one of the kitchen windows so he could open the garage for us. Nice:)

While Marlene made a yummy pork chop dinner she took a break to pose for a quick picture!!
Reviews are still flowing in on whether Tate looks like a "Griner" or a "Clark!" Although, it is very hard for me to tell...I think he looks like Caleb but with my dad's forhead and hair line!!!

For the Record:
1. I HAVE been taking "after delivery bed rest" very seriously. Besides my Saturday morning out I have stayed in bed (which is easy for me to WANT to do since I got home from the hospital and realized our bed was made with a nice bed comforter set, soft sheets and big fluffy pillows that my mom bought for us....it was the perfect coming home present, thank you mom!!).
2. Even though we went to the hospital still unable to agree on a name...some how AFTER my IV's were hooked up BUT BEFORE my water broke we happily and in a kindly manner agreed on a name!!
3. Yes, I did get an epidural (what an awful experience that was and a story all in its own). But because I was so swollen they were unable to get it to kick in on my right side. AHG!!
4.While I was in labor, something that was getting on my nerves early Tuesday morning, besides all the lightning and thunder, was that Andy kept watching Fox News. I was hoping that for one morning my life could go without anything Political, I mean, couldn't politics take a morning break....well, most of you know where Andy stands politically so I found it completely and totally funny that it took Andy over an hour to read the bottom of the television screen...which read: HAPPY 48th BIRTHDAY, AUGUST 4TH 2009, TO BARACK OBAMA!!