Cox Family: JUNE 2012 HIGHLIGHTS: PURE CHAOS AS A FAMILY OF SIX

- June 1^st marks a very special day in our home. After 56 long days in the hospital NICU, Cardiac ICU and Cardiac Recovery Floor, Ethan Robert Cox comes home. At barely two months old, Ethan has undergone open-heart surgery and showed the perseverance of a soul much older than his days. Ethan returns home with a nasogastric feeding tube, medication for reflux and a nebulizer for breathing treatments. Brian and I feel thrilled that our family of six will finally be together. I learn how to meet all of Ethan’s medical needs while trying to care for my other three kiddoes. This proves to be a bit challenging at times.

Ethan and Brian waiting to leave the hospital on June 1st.

Brian and Ethan getting in our truck!

Ethan's bedside set-up, complete with feeding tube, nebulizer and lots of wires.

- Grandma Judy visits for a week to help me adjust to taking care of four children. We take trips to McDonalds and visit Starbucks for much needed caffeine. We enjoy nightly neighborhood walks, as well. Connor spends most of his time riding around in the Bjorn with Grandma.

Grandma Judy and Connor

First outing with all four kids. Thank goodness Grandma Judy is here to help us.

- Connor and Ethan turn two months old on June 6, 2012. Trying to photograph the two of them proves to be a bit more challenging than I thought.

Ethan and Connor at the pediatrician for the two month check up.

Twin time.

Connor has HAD IT.

Ethan and Mama

Ethan is two months old!

A quick wardrobe change.

Connor is two months old!

- Brian completes his night float rotation. This rotation involves working while the rest of the family dozes (or in my case, tries to doze). It also involves trying to sleep while a house full of children is wide-awake. Brian really takes one for the team as he works through his two weeks of nights. Our family is so lucky to have a Daddy who works so very hard.

Daddy dozes with Connor and Ethan.

Trying to capture all four.

Double trouble and Super Dad

- On June 12^th, I welcome the ripe old age of 33. I have a tasty lunch with my parents and my four babies. A week later, I celebrate my birthday with my two amazing friends, Jamie and Kristin. Brian gives me a beautiful necklace engraved with the names of all family members. Life is good!

Birthday lunch with my Mom, my Dad and my four babies.

Celebrating 33rd birthday with Jamie and Kristin.

The necklace Brian has made with all the children's names and birthstones

- Our family takes our very first trip as a family of six. We drive to Austin and have a wonderful summer break with Grandpa Bob and Grandma Judy. Catie and Brandon swim in the pool and have fun in the sun. Connor and Ethan ride in Bjorns and enjoy their very first trip to Austin. Brian and I enjoy our first date night in many months and we each steal a few hours for ourselves. Brian sees a movie and I get a pedicure. It’s amazing to have a few hours on our own.

Catie and Brandon are ready to leave for Austin

All those bags

That little space?

Mommy gets ready to load Connor and Ethan into car seats

The twins are ready to go!

Catie and Brandon enjoy McDonalds on the way to Austin,

Brandon takes a swim break to gobble up an ice cream sandwich

Catie gobbles up her ice cream sandwich, too

Brian carries Ethan in the Bjorn

A Starbucks visit

Grandma does a super quick diaper change on Connor

Brandon wants more milk and decides to take matters into his own hands

Grandma Judy, Cate and Brandon at Madagascar 3

Ethan doing his own breathing treatment

Catie and Brandon in a tub (the same on Grandma and Daddy played in when they were little)

Catie tastes Amy's Ice Cream

Catie and Brandon riding home from Amy's

Grandma holds Ethan while Grandma holds Connor

Grandma and Connor

Brandon plays poolside

Mommy sipping wine and holding Ethan's bottle

Catie in the pool

Catie and Daddy

Catie floats with Grandpa

Grandpa and Brandon take it easy

Grandpa and Catie enjoy tea

Connor and Ethan

- Catie is a wonderful big sister to her baby brothers. She pats them gently, holds them in her lap (with help), gets them diapers, holds bottles and helps in anyway she can. Catie also experiences frustration as she accepts all of the transitions and stressors that have been tossed at our family. She chooses to use pull-ups, dresses like a little boy, throws some serious t temper tantrums and gives Brian and I a run for our money. Catie no longer wants to leave our house for outing sand it becomes quite a struggle to get her into the car. I feel beyond tested as a mommy and I have to try some creative strategies to show love and set reasonable boundaries with three-year-old behavior. In my heart, I know that all of Catie’s behavior is a normal three-year-old reaction to stress. By the end of June, Catie even decides to accompany me on some mommy-daughter ice cream dates.

Catie holding Connor

Catie fills her shopping cart with her entire closet of clothes.

Catie on an ice cream Mommy-Daughter date.

- While Brandon is not very interested in his new brothers, he tolerates our life’s current chaos like a champ. He plays with his cars and trucks independently. He especially enjoys driving his plastic mixer, tractor and dump truck through the flowerbeds in our backyard. Brandon gives lots of hugs and says, “I love you” multiple times a day. His love of life shines in his daily smiles and he has a positive attitude about leaving the house. His typical response when asked if he would like to go somewhere is a serious and committed, “Yes I do.” He does have his share of two-year-old tantrums, usually right before and after naptime.

Brandon wears his sister's princess heels.

Brandon on a McDonalds lunch date with Mom,

Brandon in the dirt with his trucks.

Little Connor spends his month eating and snoozing. He is content hanging out with Ethan. He grabs Ethan’s hands and feeding tube when they spend time next to each other. He smiles more and more. Connor is also growing larger and larger, especially around his belly. Catie likes to say, “Wow, he has a BIG belly.” Anytime Grandma Judy is around, Connor spends all of his time riding around in the Bjorn with her. He seems very pleased by this arrangement. Connor acts like a pretty laid back little man who accepts all the cuddle time he can get.

Connor dozing in his Rock n Play.

Connor wrapped in his elephant towel.

- Sweet Ethan adapts readily to life in our family. He tolerates daily breathing treatments and multiple changes of his feeding tube. I had hoped his feeding tube would remain in place for the entire month, but it came out many times. Brian placed the tube several times and so did I. I didn’t want to, but I did what I had to do. Little Ethan is quite a trooper and doesn’t fuss when the tube is placed. He has been working on taking formula by mouth and has made quite a bit of progress. I’m hoping his tube can come out soon. Ethan has several doctor’s appointments and nurse visits. He returns to Children’s Hospital for a follow-up bronchoscopy. The bronch shows that his right airway continues to heal well. Brian and I couldn’t ask for moreJ

Ethan chillin' in his Rock n Play

Ethan in his froggy towel.

Two happy guys

Ethan and Connor just hanging out

- Overall, I spend most of June feeling like I’m well on my way to becoming a white-haired snaggle-toothed old lady at the age of 33. While I cherish my time with all four of my darlings, I rarely feel like I am doing enough for any of my children. I feel like my time is spent trying to juggle the needs of four little ones while running on little sleep. When Brian is working nights, I learn just how little sleep I need to function. Turns out, three hours of uninterrupted sleep can get me through the day. I learn how to put both Connor and Ethan in Bjorns at the same time. For Father’s Day, Catie and I make an apple pie while Ethan and Connor both ride on me in Bjorns. I make more formula than I ever imagined making. I change more diapers than I ever imagined changing. While I have very little time to myself this month, I do learn that I can be very strong and survive when life gets toughJ