The Dodd Medical Luck Enters 2008...

While Jackson was spinning Ashton in my Christmas gift, an office chair for my scrapbooking desk (my other Christmas gift), it turned over and her head hit the corner of my hope chest. I have never seen anything swell as fast as her head did. I was ready to take her to the emergency room, but it never started to bleed so we went to the doctor instead. It will be fine and didn't require stitches but is likely to scar:( Oh well, at least it was to the doctor and not the hospital. Maybe our luck will be better in 2008!

Of course, she is the biggest hypochodriac/drama queen ever. When the nurse asked if she was on medicine or sick she started fake coughing because she's been trying to convince me for days with fake coughs to give her a cough strip. Tonight she told me she couldn't eat her dinner because it was hurting her head. She just told me that she wasn't going to be able to brush her hair tomorrow because it would pull at her sore head.

Wish us luck that this was 2008's first and last Dodd emergency, and I survive the drama queen's recovery!

Mission Organization

You know one of my resolutions is to be more organized, so I'm looking for some advice. The most un-organized thing in my house right now is the laundry. Believe it or not, it's not toys. The kids have never been the problem with that, it's Jon! WHEN the kids pick up they usually know where they go, but Jon is a big fan of if there's an empty spot put a toy in it, no matter if you're mixing Little Ponies with Legos! Now, thanks to my beloved label maker he's doing great! I finally have them so organized that EVEN Jon can figure out where they go.

It is a lot harder keeping up with laundry for 6! I actually really like doing laundry. I like the sorting process and the beauty of putting it in the machine and letting it do all the work for you! The break down is in the putting up laundry. We always toss it on the couch in my bedroom to fold and sort. That couch is currently a mountain of laundry. I hate putting clothes away and the mountain is so overwhelming! I'm thinking there has to be a better process. Right now I do a day of laundry where I wash as many loads as I can get through, but I never seem to have enough time to put them all away. So, I was sondering what your strategies are. Is it better to wash a load or 2 every day? I mix the kids clothes with ours. Is it better to wash everyone's clothes seperately?

I just needed some feedback so I can get this aspect organized and be able to actually sit on my couch again :)

Happy folding!

A Year in Review

I'm a little late in reflecting on the year since I was trying to catch up on Christmas. Yet, I have been mentally reflecting on it for a few weeks. I have never been so energized or excited about a new year, because I need to figuratively put 2007 behind us. That sounds awful since one of the happiest events of my life happened with the birth of the twins. On the up side, I doubled the children I have to love. I realized how blessed I am with great friends who fed my family for 3 months when I couldn't and shuttled my children around. I have learned that miracles are happening every day when I brought 2 full term, perfectly healthy babies with perfect hearts home from the hospital 2 days later. I have learned a mother's heart can increase exponentially and never run out of love to give. I have watched my firstborn ask Jesus into his heart and be baptized. I have watched a little girl grow more beautiful each day, inside and out. I have seen an incredible husband work all day only to come home and care for 2 kids, a house and a helpless wife without complainng, even once. I have seen 2 babies supposed to be just alike be complete individuals whom I love in their own unique way. I have seen 2 extremely brave aunts successfully fight breast cancer. I have been taught to appreciate any day that you're able to be vertical and care from your family!


Still, after being on bedrest for 8 weeks, in the hospital 8 times, unable to take care of my children and missing so much of their lives, confronting the fear of breast cancer, worrying about not being able to carry my babies to term, having to hear there is a problem with your unborn baby's heart, suffering through gall bladder attacks and emergency surgery, and lots of exhaustion and setbacks I need 2007 to be over. I feel so hopeful for this next year. For one thing, I have physically felt so much better after having my gall bladder out and recovering from a hard pregnancy. I also just feel so content. I finally feel in my heart that my family is complete. now it's time to settle in and enjoy them! I have made several resolutions that I am pumped up about to make this the best year ever!

Personal Resolutions:
1. Scrapbook at least 1 new layout a week
2. Be more organized


Family Resolutions:
1. Watch less TV
2. Eat healthier


Jon and I's Resolutions:
1. Read through the Bible
2. Survive 2 mobile babies!


But enough about me. Let's reflect on how far Jon came in this last calendar year.


That is him in the doctor's office when we had just found out we were having twins, and I had to ask the nurse if she knew CPR, because he looked like he might need it (this look returned numerous times in the next 9 months and still does when things get a little crazy but at least less frequently now).
Here he is a year later, the proud dad of 4 who, for all his blustering, wouldn't change a thing (I think?), the most amazing husband and father God has gifted me with. One whom, God willing, I will spend this new year and many, many more sharing our lives together.

Finally, Christmas Day

I know, you never thought we'd get here, but it's finally Christmas Day picture time, Christmas #6. I always take pics of the kids asleep before Santa comes. Those pics tell so much, how they sleep what their rooms look like, etc. And yes, I have to wake my kids up for Santa. Jon doesn't understand that as he and David always woke their parents up at the crack of dawn, or before! Please notice 3 kids sounds alseep and our Will, who is always scared of missing something, going strong already!

When we finally all got downstairs the kids just sat and stared at their gifts Santa brought. They didn't even touch anything until we made them, but at least I got cute pictures of them in their matching pj's.



I was worried that Santa days might be over soon for Jackson, but he was really into believing from the Polar Express and asked Santa for a bell from his sleigh. He was so proud he could hear it ring!My favorite gift was a coupon book Jackson made in school with his priceless drawings and writing in, plus it promised to help clean the house, we'll see! Notice the wrapping paper every where; it gets bigger every year!

The jumping exosaucer the twins got was a HUGE hit for them and their excited parents who now have something to keep them occupied for a few precious moments. It was so sad because Will couldn't touch the ground enough to bounce but hefty Wesley weighed it down enough that he could go to town bouncing. Speaking of which, Wesley was excited by the baby food found in their stocking, though he won't get it for a few more months. Jon and I just switched kids and cameras back and forth as we tried to enjoy and document! It was a scientific Christmas for Jackson as he got a volcano kit, ant farm, telescope and microscope. Perfect for our budding scientist!

I made the mistake of last year of putting Luke the dog's name on one of their gifts. Of course, they didn't forget and were wondering for months what Luke would get them this year. So, now I'm stuck buying one more gift! I decided it would be perfect if he gave them yellow lab Webkins. Well, it was a big hit, just see the pictures of them collasped in a pile on the couch after running around screaming. It was the only gift that got that reaction and the dog gets all the credit??? First Santa, now the dog- moms get nothing!

Christmas #7: We head to Mawmaw's for a DELICIOUS breakfast we look forward to all year with country ham and homemade biscuits topped with Karo syrup and butter, my mouth is watering right now! Tyler and I got the first seats at the table and enjoyed hiding the Karo syrup from Jon!

Christmas #8: Nana and Pop's. We were so glad that firefighter Uncle David got someone to work his shift so we were all together! J-Rae gave the kids Webkins. Ashton loved her panda. Do you think she liked the princess cash register Nana and Pop gave her?
Donnie and Grandmother came over that night so the kids could show them what Santa brought. We had a surprise gift for Donnie. I made her a book on Photoworks (my new obsession, try it if you haven't!) of our trip to Gatlinburg. It turned out awesome and she loved it, and after a hard year of fighting breast cancer we just love having her here for MANY, MANY, MANY more!

Christmas Eve

Christmas #4:We start Christmas Eve with breakfast at Grandmother's. Heather and I helped cook for the first time. I guess we're grown ups officially!

After we force the kdis to eat, we tear into the gifts. The hit gifts for the kids were Webkinz, more about that later!Ashton's favorite gift was a chef outfit complete with her name on it since cooking cupcakes is her and Grandmother's thing!
A quick aside: the ball just dropped as I type this. They say what you're doing at midnight on New Year's is what you'll be doing all year so I guess get ready for some great posts this year!

We always take family shots in front of the tree, see the much grown Dodd clan (note my carefully crafted matching outfits and Wesley in a baseball outfit since he spit up on his nice outfit!). We also always take a sister picture. When I said time for a sister picture my sweet baby girl ran and grabbed my hand bc/ the only way she got over her severe disappointment of not having a sister was by deciding that she and I are sisters, so she figured she should be in the picture and I didn't have the heart to tell her otherwise!
Wesley models mine and Jon's favorite gift- formula!
The scariest for moms and most exciting for kids gift was this go cart from my dad. I can't even wrap my mind around it yet!


We actually got time for naps. Jackson was so cute. He fell asleep while building his electric circuits kit, one shoe on one off.

#5:Christmas Eve night, Mawmaw's. We celebrate with over 30 people (the scary part as I look about all those people I realize they all come from Mawmaw's 4 children, like me one day- LOVE IT!). The twins fell asleep on the couch. It was funny because they were sleeping in the exact same position. I absolutely love this picture of Will with the tree lights behind him.
Wesley and his too cute uncle Ty.
What a great big brother, teaching Will how to play piano already!

After all this fun, time to head home and jump in our matching pj's before Santa comes!

Christmas Cuteness

This is dedicated to Ashley who asked if I were ever going to blog again! I know Heather'd be asking to if she were in town. Sorry for my absence. I just take too many pics and was dreading going through them and choosing then shrinking them from our 8, yes 8, Christmas get togethers, not counting Sunday School party, friends get together and the kids' 5 Christmas shows!

Here goes, get ready to do some scrolling!
#1: A Clark Christmas: Friday night at Uncle Jimmy's church. Last year this is where we made our 1st big twin announcement and were met with nervous silence! No announcements this year (boy, did we answer that question a lot at all the Christmases!).

#2: Floyd Christmas: Saturday night, Legos for Jackson plus Tyler's help building them and a fashion show stage for Ashton. Tyler also brought a girlfriend for the 1st time who was a big hit bringing the Underdog movie for the kids!


#3 Christmas Eve Eve at Grandmother's: Sunday night filled with early gifts and lots of games. Justin was a lot of fun making hilarious faces every time the big kids would drive their remote control car close to him. My dad works all year I think to come up with a Christmas prank. It used to be on us, once it was on my great-grandmother (one of those jumping ball baby toys wrapped up and laughing, she cackled!) and now it is on our kids. Therefore, the remote control car was wrapped and started moving away when the kids would try to open it!


So much fun already and Christmas not even officially here!

Of Cribs, Grinches and Singing Babysitters...

It is only 10:30 a.m. and so much has happened in the Dodd household already that I had to post about it even though I should be cleaning!!! It all started with a momentous occasion for the twins who slept in their cribs in their own rooms last night! This is very ironic for those of you who know how my poor husband killed himself to build them a nursery in April when I was put on bedrest, and now 8 months later they are using it for the first time!

My sweet, laid back Wesley lay right down in his crib and watched the rainforrest music and lights show on the side of his crib until he fell asleep. He woke up at 12:30 and 4:00 but went back to sleep after I inserted a pacie. When he awoke at 5:00I brought him to bed to snuggle with me just like I used to Jackson (who consequently slept in my bed until age 5, so maybe not the best idea, but really sweet!). He then slept until 8. This was the first night in a few he hasn't eaten. I'm so excited he slept so well in his crib, see..

Then there was Will...Jon had to swing him to get him to sleep. He wasn't as amused by the rainforrest as Wessie! He was be out cold and Jon would lay him in his bed, and he would scream like he had laid him on a bed of nails! It was awful! It took almost an hour to finally get him to sleep out of Daddy's arms. Yes, I know everyone says to let them cry it out, but that is hard to do when you have another one in the room you don't want to wake up! As usual, once he got to sleep he was fine. He didn't wake up once until 10:00a.m. looking very pleased with himself...
Onto the next child's drama. Jackson had to dress as the grinch today. We dressed him in green clothes, and I sprayed his hair green. He looked great! However, the face paint we had bought was only for adults. I decided not to let him wear it because I didn't want him to have an allergic reaction at school. Well, he had a come apart. Forget everything he did have, he could only focus on the one thing he didn't have! I was so frustrated with him because he wasn't seeing how cute he looked! Then I got downright mad when he wouldn't smile for a picture because, you know me: it's all about the scrapbookable moments! In a not-my-best parenting moment (boy, there's been a lot of those this week) I threatened to put his Webkinz in time-out all weekend (a fate worse than death to a 6 year old) if he didn't smile for my picture. Here it is, notice his heart that is "5 sizes too small". I even made him a bigger heart to change to when he wants to be the reformed grinch!

Upon reflection, I don't know what I was so upset about. My son is obviously a method actor. He was just getting into character! So, without threats and forced smiles by mommy, here's the REAL grinch as seen in my living room this morning!
Not to leave out the girl...After breakfast the babies like to sit in their bouncy seats and watch TV (bad parenting rears it's ugly head again, but they get mad if I put their toy bar on the seat as it blocks thier view!). I told Ashton to watch them and ran upstairs to grab a quick shower. When I got out I heard Wesley fuss, and then Ashton start singing. The crying stopped. I snuck down the stairs, camera in hand to see Ashton putting on a concert for her baby brothers. She was singing and dancing (songs from High School Musical, of course) and the boys loved it! You can't beat a singing babysitter, just ask Mary Poppins! (Please note the huge box of goldfish on the table that she grazes out of all day if I don't hide it!)

So, that's our Dodd day so far. There's much more to come as we try to get the green hair color out. and then we have a big trip to see Santa and the lights at Opryland tonight!