Seven Month Old Kulow Boys

So the title picture is a picture of my three little guys all at seven months old.  Can you tell which is which?  Don't worry I made it easy... Zeke, Ki, and Riah!

Come a long ways!

Today was a day of closure for myself.  I know it might sound funny but today I was truly able to put behind me the past.  What brought that on… well today was the NICU reunion.  I didn’t realize how much I was still carrying that season in our life.  I thought that once we came home I was done and over it.  I think today really brought some closure.  Today was the first time I had been back to the hospital since February 19^th when Riah came home.  Today as I drove to the hospital I kept looking in the back seat to see Riah sitting back there grinning at his brothers.  I had some praise music in the background and everything was “righted” for me.  As we pulled up to the hospital and I pulled into the parking structure there was a sense of sickness that came over me.  The last times that I remember parking in that structure was when I was running into the hospital to see my baby.  We got to the hospital at ten, which brought about the memory of his touch times… seven, ten, one and four.  As I got my three boys out of the car there was a sense of peace that came over, I was not there to rush upstairs to put my hands on my baby and feed him and then be requested to put him back in the bassinet and be left to just look at him.  We were a little early so the boys and I played in the grass area out front of the hospital.  Zeke informed me that he had to go potty so that meant we were going to have to go into the hospital.  The smell of the hospital hit me as we walked through the doors.  It was not a welcome smell to say the least.  That little feeling of sickness crept back in and I could not wait to get back outside.  Once we were back outside we were greeted by some of the nursing staff.  My hope in coming to this NICU reunion was to see the three nurses that took care of Riah and just thank them for everything that they did.  I am pleased to say I got to do just that.  Mandi was one of the nurses that left such a huge impact on me.  She was actually the nurse that gave me the NICU tour when I was first admitted into the hospital.  She was such a soft spirit that knew just how to speak to me and help me through that season.  The other nurse that I really wanted to see was our day nurse Sarah, she was a fun spirit that always made me feel comfortable and to me felt like a huge cheerleader.  The other nurse that impacted me was Laurie, she was the mothering type of person for me.  I could cry with her and she would just hold me.  These three ladies had such a profound impact on me and it was nice to see them out of their scrubs, outside of Riah’s NICU room and be able to thank them.  So today I was finally able to put forty three days of my life and thirty days of Riah’s life behind us and see just how far he has come and rest knowing that God has all our days numbered and He is the author of everything!

Kulow Boys

I try to take pictures of my boys just about every day and sometimes I am double fisted picture taking - One camera in one hand and another in my other hand.  Today was one of the days I only had one camera but I did get a few good pictures of my little men.  Today I was in awe of how big my three boys have gotten.  Zeke no longer has a baby look, nor does Ki and Riah is growing up so fast.  There are days that I think back to Riah's beginning and I am just amazed at God's grace, love and protection.  To look at Riah today you would not know that he had such a rough start and to that I am so grateful!
Well enough of me... here are my boys from today...

A little morning breakfast before we head off to the park.

so serious

I am a sucker for chubby feet.

This is Riah's new trick... doesn't he look so proud of himself?

Summer over?

Can it be possible that the summer is over?  Yesterday was the last day of the outside pool, today they are draining it and getting ready for fall and winter.  UGH!  I can honestly say though that I believe that we got our monies worth from our season passes.  Friday was our last day at the pool and that day marked 29 days of going to the pool during the summer season.  Thursday will be our last summer park play dates with MOPS.  We didn't make it to every Thursday play date however we made a valiant effort, between potty training and summer colds I think we missed three.  I had grand ideas of making it to the Regal summer movies however with Riah not taking a regular nap and not being quiet we did not even make it to one.  I also had signed up for free bowling but never made it to that either.  Oh well!  I think if you asked the boys they would say that they had a fun summer.  Here are a few pictures from last Thursday's park play date and our last day at the pool. 
Hope that your summer was fun filled.  I know that for many today is the first day of school which begins the crazy time of running from school to home, to get homework done to getting kids to after school sports.  Let the craziness of fall begin!

Just a few rambings

Okay for those that are only interested in pictures, you will have to hold your horses.  I have some ramblings to carry on about first! 
I have posted a few baby items on craigslist to sell and all I have received from those postings are spam emails.  What is up with that?  Really I just want to sell some of this baby stuff that has been cluttering my house for the last four years.  Most of the emails that I get go something like this, "Do you still have this for sale?"  My reply, "Yes, if it is still up then it is still for sale."  The reply back, "Let's take this conversation to a live chat so I can ask you about the item."  My reply back, "No need... this is the item, this is the price, do you want it?"  Then I proceed to get three or four penis erectile spam emails from that email address.  Really!?!?  I don't think it would frustrate me so much but I would really like to get this stuff out of my house and I would like to get some money for it all because I plan on taking the money that I get for it and then purchasing Riah his big boy carseat.  So come on!  Gurrr!
My next issue is, why do clothes have to be so darn expensive?  If I had it my way I have recently decided I would wear dresses and skirts year round, every day!  I love how comfortable they are and I don't have to feel like a sausage trying to fit my body into a waistband.  I would like to convert my entire wardrobe into cotton/jersey dresses and skirts.  I have a few and I wear them every chance I get between washes.  I am keeping my eyes open for the summer sales of sun dresses so that I can purchase them and I will just wear leggings and sweaters over them for winter.  I am all about comfort!  I have an aunt that I swear does not own a single pair of pants or shorts and I use to think it was kind of weird.  She always is wearing a dress of skirt and in her case heels... granted I am not about the heels more barefoot but I understand where my aunt is coming from now.
Well, that just about covers my most recent need to vent.  Now for those of you that stuck through my ramblings your reward... pictures from yesterday...

In this picture Riah I think looks a lot like I did when I was a baby...

My big boy Zeke

Watch out, Ki has figured out how to work his water gun.

So I asked Ki for a smile and this was what I got, this will make his daddy proud!

Brothers

Brothers

Riah and mommy, he was happy for his picture with Zeke and wanting nothing to do with taking a picture with me... that little stinker!

Summer Pictures

I have realized that most of my entries have been picture filled and not a lot on the "update" front.  Well to stick with the standard that I have set thus far...

The boys have recently discovered how cool Wii is.  They can't really figure out the concept of most of the games but they love the boxing game.  Zeke beats Ki everything but they both love jumping around playing.

Zeke's new favorite thing at the pool is to jump in.  He has been trying new jumps... I am sure that broken bones will be in the near future.

Ki has been growing up soooo much this summer, every time I see him it seems like he has changed and grown!

Riah loves the pool!  Here he is getting dressed so we could leave the pool, but he was trying to get back in the water.  He is not yet crawling but between rolling and army scutching he gets around.

Sweet dreams!