Drew - 3 weeks old (yesterday)
I didn't even get my camera out today! I am so sad - I was really trying to get photos everyday - but life just got crazy! It started out with the three older kids and Andy going over to the Darrow house to celebrate Faschnacht Day. There is a bakery around here that makes the most incredible faschnacts! They are wonderful! Aunt Denise always brings some over to the Darrow's and they are kind enough to share them with us. I didn't go over because it was almost time for Drew to wake up and eat and I was no where near ready to go out in public! So Drew and I had a relaxing morning while the kids got hyped up on sugar!
I also tried to be creative in my dinner for this evening. I used to have a great recipe for Beef Stew - but I have lost it. So I just threw things in the crock pot as an experiment. It didn't turn out too badly. It should have cooked a bit longer, but it was pretty tasty. Sarah ate it so it couldn't have been too bad! I think I need to add peas or some other green veggie. I am trying to use the crock pot more so I don't have to think too hard about dinner as that is usually when Drew wants to eat! I am also trying to use ingredients that I have on hand. I am trying to see how long I can go without going to the grocery store. We have only gone to get some fresh produce and milk - but the snow has helped me stay away from the grocery store - I actually haven't driven our van for more than three weeks! It will probably feel weird when I do get behind the wheel again!
Drew - 3 weeks old - a pretty good sleeper!
Daniel and I did a bunch of school today. He is so into it! We focused on cutting with scissors and writing exercises. He LOVES mazes! He does really well with them. I am going to have to find a harder maze book - he is starting to tell me the ones I am having him do are too easy! He's so funny. He loves to be challenged - so different from Matt and Sarah! He is also into the alphabet. He is really putting the sounds together with the letters - I think he'll be reading before I know it! I am amazed at what he already understands! I wonder where he would be if it weren't for the bed bugs and the pregnancy - boy! Sometimes I feel like I've lost so much time with him - but God is good and will do the work that needs to be done in my sweet boys life!
Matt is struggling with getting school done in a timely fashion and as a result missed out on going to preteens tonight. Andy and I decided that we just really need to stand firm with him in regards to the rules we have set for him. One rule is that he needs to finish his school work before going to preteens. He had four math problems that weren't done. I felt terrible, but he wasn't done - so he suffered the consequences. Hopefully, he will take this experience to heart and start putting more effort into getting his work accomplished.
Sarah has been super helpful this week - really trying to get her school work done and doing little chores here and there to help me out. She vacuumed the living room today - it really needed it! I am very thankful for all her efforts this week!
Life is crazy - but I wouldn't trade it for anything! We are all doing well and I am so thankful for each blessing God has given me - especially the four lives he has entrusted to our care! Please pray for each one as they grow and strive to do their best for God.
I am so thankful! Never in my life did I dream we would have a fourth child and during the whole pregnancy I wondered how I could possibly love another child as much as I love the first three - but I am so in love with this little guy! He is absolutely amazing to me! He is cute and sweet and cries like a banshee - but I don't care - he is a miracle to me! One of my favorite things to witness is the love Daniel has for Drew. He has been so wonderful and loving - at times a little too hands on - but I can't help but let Daniel "cuddle" Drew. Drew is really starting to watch Daniel and just listen to him talk to him. I continue to pray that they will have a wonderful and close relationship.
So what is Drew like at a month? He sleeps great - only waking up twice during the night and going right back down. He is a morning child - when he wakes between 6 am and 7 am he wants to stay awake - while Andy and I are still tired!!! Andy has been sweet and has been taking him downstairs so that I can get an extra hour of rest. Drew eats well only taking about 10 - 15 minutes to eat - he's quite efficient! He is also a spewer! We call him Sir Spews A Lot! It is a wonder he gains any weight with all that comes back out! He is currently wearing 3 month sizes clothing, but is quickly going into 6 month size! 
He is a big boy, but so great to hold - a real cuddle bug! He is really starting to become more alert - watching the kids do things, looking at himself in a mirror, and turning his head to our voices. He is wonderful and we are all so thankful to have him as a part of our family! 
I felt bad for him. But nothing I did consoled the poor boy. Thankfully, he is currently asleep and will hopefully have a decent night. You know it is a bad day when Daniel - who absolutely ADORES Drew - says "Can he go to sleep now?"!!! I thought that was pretty funny! Daniel was a trooper and endured his little brothers loud screams while doing school. He's learning tolerance - right?
He was weighed this morning - with clothes on - and was 12 pounds 15 ounces!!! I just can't believe he has gained another 1 pound 12 ounces in two weeks! That's almost a pound a week! I am hoping he'll slow down one of these days as soon he will be in 6-9 month sized clothing!
It was so cute! And Drew looks like he's really enjoying it! Daniel loves spending time with Drew and is REALLY anxious for him to grow up so he can play with him!
I am hoping that I will have some time this weekend to pull all the things I want to do with him together. Drew is starting to lengthen his time between feedings and is sleeping for some good stretches - so I really want to take advantage of that time and get school organized. I have been neglecting it terribly and really need to get my act together to finish our year better than it started!
Yesterday was Drew's first time out to church! He was quite a draw! Everyone had to see the HUGE baby! I loved the comments! "He is so HEALTHY!" "He has the chubbiest cheeks!" "He looks like he eats well!" Yes, my boy is a good eater and he sure is healthy looking! But I think of all my kids Sarah wins the chubbiest cheeks award!
We hadn't seen them since the hospital. She made the most incredible lunch! Chicken Corn Chowder, mini-hoagies, deviled eggs, salad - YUM!!!! My sister and nephew were also there and they met Drew for the first time! 
We only spent a few hours there, but it was sure great to get out of the house for a little while. It was a good first trip for Drew as my parents only live about 45 minutes away and I could feed him before we left and then let him sleep in the car. I have to be honest - I have been a bit thankful for the snow and the excuse we have to go anywhere! I always find it hard to travel with a newborn and have been content to stay at home. The kids were thrilled to get out of the house! They have been cooped up far too long as Andy has been pretty busy and hasn't been able to take them out. I really wish we had a backyard that they could go out in - but it is too full of construction stuff. It will hopefully be cleaned out this spring!
Our house! There is a TON of snow in the front yard!
As close as Drew will get to the snow this year! When the door opens and he feels the chilled air he just howls! He hates the cold!
Hi! Just 
Daniel is really into his Aquadoodle. You can see in the middle the word "God". He is really into spelling that right now and can do it all on his own! I think he's going to be a good speller! He is also into drawing happy faces! We did a bunch of school today and he was pleased as punch to do it. I am amazed at his coloring skills and the abilities he has already. I am thanking God that it doesn't matter what I do - that He is in control and will allow Daniel to progress as far as he needs to to do what He has called him to do!
See that left arm up in the air? Last week he wasn't able to do that! He is really progressing and we are praying for a full recovery in the next few months. He goes back to the orthopaedist February 24th for x-rays and a progress check. Hopefully, all will be well by then.
Isn't his outfit cool? It's a shame he will probably only wear it one more time as it is a 0-3 month outfit and only goes up to 12.5 pounds. The pants are already a bit snug in the waist. I so wish I had had this outfit for Daniel - our little rocker! Maybe this is a sign that Drew will be a rocker as well! We'll see! 
Drew is doing well, though today he doesn't want to settle down to sleep. I am hoping he is wearing himself out for sleeping tonight! I have to start tracking what I am eating as maybe that is what is contributing to his unsettled behavior today. Of course, it could just be he is starting to wake up and realize there is more to life than sleeping! I forget what it is like to have a newborn and have to remember what to do with little people again! 
Well, it's snowing already here in Philly - round 2 of snow this week. They are forecasting a foot to 18 inches - on top of the 28.5 we already have! This could be our snowiest winter yet! Andy and I think it is funny that we have lived in Philly for the top three snowstorms ever! And still after all these years Philly has no idea what to do with all the snow it gets! The mayor keeps telling the neighborhoods it can't plow the side streets because they are too narrow - you would think they would start purchasing some smaller plows to do the side streets. What we can't figure is that trash trucks are what is often used to plow the streets - the same trash trucks that go down these narrow street to collect the garbage. Oh well! We continue to live on an unplowed street and will hopefully thaw out before Easter!
My brain still hasn't fully recovered from this pregnancy. I knew Drew had a doctor's appointment today - I thought it was at 1 pm - it was really for 10:30 am! Fortunately it was just a weight check and they fit me in. I was glad since Andy drove us all down there and it would have been a real pain to reschedule! 
With all the others I remember the doctors taking both weight and length checks - this doctor only does weight. By two weeks the doctors like to see the baby regain their birth weight - which for Drew was 10 pounds 12 ounces. Today he weighed in at 11 pounds 3 ounces! Not only did he regain his birth weight, but he also gained 7 ounces! I laughed as the doctor said they like to see babies gain about 30 grams a day and Drew has been averaging 53 grams a day! I guess my worries about him taking the bottle the first 24 hours and then nursing him were for nothing! He has taken to nursing like a champ and hasn't had a bottle since the night he came home from the hospital. He is also becoming more efficient as he only takes about 30 minutes from beginning to end - so nice for the middle of the night feedings!
Daniel is starting to get a bit emotional - crying and asking for lots of hugs. We are trying to spend tons of time with him and do some extra things with him, but I guess it is inevitable that he have some emotions with not being the baby anymore. Overall, he is doing well. He has been amazing me with his knowledge. In all honesty I have not spent a lot of time doing school with Daniel. I have felt terrible about it. But somehow he knows all his uppercase letters and can count up through 30! It really is amazing what kids learn when surrounded by older siblings! The other day he asked how to spell GOD. I told him the letters and this is what he wrote on his AquaDoodle (a great toy he got for Christmas!). 
So it's backwards! I was amazed as we have never even worked on writing letters! I am determined to start working with him full time next week. I think he is going to be a great student!
Yesterday was an awesome SNOW DAY! 28.5 inches of snow fell in the city of brotherly love and the kids have enjoyed every moment! Andy is such a great dad. He took the kids out at 12:30 pm and I didn't see them again until about 5:00 pm.
They went up to the church playground and played in the snow - and when they got tired of the snow they ran around inside the church. Daniel came home looking like a snow monster - covered in snow and big red rosy cheeks! 
An hour later he was crashed on the floor and out like a light!
Last night was our first "rough" night. He cried for about 2 hours from 9:30 - 11:30 and nothing Andy or I did would console him. I finally tried feeding him one more time and then wrapped him up nice and tight and then he fell asleep until 3:00 am! If that's as rough as it gets - I'll take it!
The water was nice and warm and he just sat in the little floaty (that I borrowed from Carisa - Thanks! I love it!) and relaxed. It was great! He is such a cutie! Drew is really starting to move his left arm. He moves it up in front of his chest and is really making progress. Thank you all for your prayers! 
He just loves having him around so much! I truly hope that they will grow up to be best buddies. 
Matt and Sarah have also had a great time holding Drew - there is often a line of kids waiting for him to be done eating so that they can have their turn at holding him! I think it's funny - we'll see how long it will last!