Saturday, September 22, 2007

The Exodus


It is amazing how time flies! I can't believe that it has been three weeks since we came back to Austin. The trip back to Texas actually went pretty smoothly, all things considered. Packing for the trip home was much more stressful than the trip itself---it is incredible how much stuff we accumulated during our stay!

For the trip home, we had one adult per baby---Jayson, my mom, Jayson's mom, myself and Candice Park--the resident who delivered the babies. We managed to squeeze all the babies, baby stuff, luggage, and people into two suburbans to get to the Phoenix airport. The trickiest part of the whole journey was getting to the gate. Airport security is no picnic even when you are traveling by yourself. Getting five babies, five adults, two strollers, five car seats, four diaper bags, two laptop computers, two video cameras, two carry-on suitcases, and five pairs of shoes through the detectors was quite a task! Fortunately the people in line behind us were understanding!


Rachelle, Candice (Dr. Park), Jayson, Betty Ann (Rachelle's Mom), Sylvia (Jayson's Mom), and the quints waiting to get on the plane.


The flight itself was fairly uneventful. Due to the full flight and some faulty seat assignments, all of us ended up scattered throughout the cabin. Once we landed the real circus began! Several local news stations were there to great us, along with our older kids, Riley and Kaiya, and a few friends who came to help us get back home. I have to admit that it was pretty fun to create a spectacle in the airport pushing our triple and double strollers around.


When we arrived home, this is the sight that greeted us:




I walked in the front door and was completely surprised to find that my front rooms had been transformed into most beautiful, wonderful, perfect nursery ever! My friends went all out to decorate, incorporating all five of the babies colors. In one room there are five beautiful white cribs--one for each baby with bedding in their color. The other room has two changing tables, rocking chairs and a large shelving unit with baskets to keep all the baby stuff. The decorations on the walls are so cute. There are even pictures of each baby with name plates in their color (a great "cheat sheet" for all the volunteers who have been coming) and pictures of Riley and Kaiya. An amazing amount of time is spent in these two rooms, and it is so nice to have such a wonderful environment to be in. The way everything is set up also allows us to stay organized, which is vital with so many babies! Every day I look at these rooms and am overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of those who were involved with the project. It was totally worth having five babies just to get this fabulous nursery!


The babies check out their new nursery suite.


The rest of the house looks great as well. I was gone when all the "moving in" took place and I am so indebted to Aunt Victoria and Aunt Linda, who flew out for a week to help decorate and unpack, as well as countless other friends and church members who helped move and unpack all of our stuff. For the first week we were here, all I could do was walk around and think, "Wow--I can't believe this is my house!" While Jayson's aunts were here, they also did a laundry room makeover, complete with a new washer and dryer purchased with donations from all of Jayson's extended family members. Uncle Ken donated all the wonderful cabinetry.



Since our arrival home, the quints are doing great! We weighed them all today and here are their current weights:

Baby ...................Birth Weight..........Today's Weight

Kassidy................5 lb 1 oz................. 7 lb 15.5 oz

Kaydence ............3 lb 6 oz ................6 lb 10 oz

Rustin ..................4 lb 15 oz ..............8 lb 9 oz

Kyndall ................4 lb 2 oz ................6 lb 6.5 oz

Ryder ...................3 lb 15 oz ..............7 lb 15.5 oz

Ryder has already doubled his birth weight. He and Kaydence have changed the most since we got here. Kyndall has reflux and has a hard time keeping food down, and hence has become the smallest of the bunch.

We have been so blessed with lots of help from friends, family and church members. Everyday I am overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity that has been shown to us.

I'll write more later about what "normal life" is like now.


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28 comments:

Anonymous said...

I was so happy to read a post from Mom! (nothing against dad, tho!) Your story gives me hope while expecting my 4th that there will be light sometime during this parenting journey of raising young children. I appreciate your thoughts and love to catch up on your precious ones (ALL of them including #1 and #2). hang in there and hang on...it is bound to be a tumultuous, although very satisfying ride! You guys are awesome!

Anonymous said...

I bet the sight of all of you and the babies in the airports was amazing!!

Your home looks beautiful!! The nursery rooms are gorgeous :)

FIVE babies. No idea how you guys do it! It's amazing...

Mama B said...

I have been worried not seeing posts!!! I am so glad to hear everything went good. It sounds like sure have a great supportive family. You are truly blessed. Your home looks amazing. I love it!!!! The munchkins look adorable!!!!

Buggles said...

It's so great to read an update from you, Rachelle. What a wonderful, beautiful nursery!

Career.Nanny said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
The Dragonfly said...

Hey Amazing Momma! Thanks for the update as well as updated pics to adore. We can't keep the grins off our faces every time we hear more good news from the QUINT CAMP. Now if I could just find a way to get out there and hold those babies!

Alisa said...

Hi! I moved away from the area a while back, but I am still on McNeil Ward's email blast, so I found out about you and your babies through that. I have to say you are an amazing inspiration. It can be very difficult with only one baby, let alone 5 and 2 other small ones!!! I actually started a blog a few months ago (happymommas.blogspot.com) for mothers to go to and vent frustrations, ask for advice, or rave about their beautiful children. If you ever get a free moment (right....) we would love for you to stop by and let us know how you do it!! It may help some of us put things into perspective a little better! Congratulations and we wish you the best of luck!!

Anonymous said...

I hope your adoring public noticed that you posted at 3:48 AM or for most of us, the middle of the night.

The nursery is gorgeous and the baby weights are terrific. Can't wait to meet them.

Love
Auntie V

Career.Nanny said...

Wow.

Everything looks AMAZING.
You are All doing an amazing job.

More warm wishes and congratulations.

Julianne said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

What a huge amazing amounts of blessings. Everything x5!! You seem to be holding yourself together well. Congrats to all 9 of you. I have newborn twins and if I ever feel stressed or overwhelmed I will look at your pics of 5 babies laugh and continue on. You guys help to encourage me. Yhank You!!

Rolyndia said...

Congrat's on your babies. Sounds like all are healthy and growing like crazy. You have truly been blessed and the Lord is mindful of your needs. We had triplets 5 1/2 years ago and they are a blessing in our lives and a joy to have in our family. Your little ones are beautiful and so are your older children. The nursery is beautiful and how wonderful of your family and friends to fix it up for you. Congrat's again.

Christie said...

This is amazing! I've been following your blog for awhile now, and it's so good to see your finally back home.

(and that nursery is GORGEOUS!)

Shannon said...

Welcome back home! We'll miss having you in Phoenix. so nice to be in your own (new) home! you're in my thoughts often!

Katie said...

We enjoy hearing how you guys are doing through church friend who help you guys out. You guys are an inspiration to all of us! We're glad things are going so well. Your nusery looks amazing! I'm glad the babies are doing so well.

LT (and Max) said...

i've kept up with your blog over the past couple of months and i must tell you what an inspiration you have been!
your babies are all beautiful and your house looks awesome!

Nichols Family said...

Rachelle! We saw you on the news (in Phoenix) again at the airport arriving in TX! Glad you made it...and your house looks completely awesome. I'm so glad I got to see you before you left and meet your sweet children. Please keep in touch...at least throught your parents and when you come to AZ next.

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