Yesterday we picked up “The Beast”---our new 12-passenger van which was generously given to us by National Instruments, the company Jayson works for. When we got to the dealership and I saw the van for the first time, all I could think was, “This thing is HUGE!!” While it is wonderful to have a vehicle that our whole family will fit in, picking up this car wasn’t as exciting as when we bought our other vehicles. These types of vans are very low on frills and high on functionality. There was no leather seat upgrade, no DVD player option, and no sunroof option. The Beast doesn’t even come with a CD player. However, this vehicle has other features that I am sure will make us the envy of the neighborhood. Besides being able to comfortably fit 12 passengers, this van is long enough to fit rolls of carpet (as the car salesman proudly pointed out). It also puts me at eye level with the semi-truck drivers on the road. For someone who has a hard time reaching even the second shelf items in the kitchen, this is a pretty great thing. In addition, I am pretty sure that we could drive over tricycles and scooters (and maybe even small children) left in the driveway without causing any damage.
The babies are two months old now and all are doing wonderfully! They are getting so big. Sometimes it almost seems like they change overnight. Kyndall has had some problems with reflux, but she is still gaining weight, so the doctor is not worried about her. She has gotten me and several of our volunteers pretty soaked with her projectile vomiting, however. I have heard that some doctors claim reflux is not a medical problem, but a laundry problem.
The babies are awake quite a bit now and are even starting to give us some “real” smiles. I can’t wait for them to be more interactive. Of course all this awake time means that we stay really busy. Especially in the evening when they all want to get a good cry in before going to sleep. The good news is that they all seem to do pretty well overnight. They typically go longer between feedings and go right to sleep after eating. Getting all of them to sleep through the night is still in the distant future, however.
Kassidy, Kaydence, Rustin, Kyndall, and Ryder
This week we also had my mother-in-law here to help us. She is great with the babies and Riley and Kaiya think she is the most fun grandma ever. She enlisted some extra help Friday night so that Jayson and I could go out. We went out to eat and then we went vacuum shopping! Pretty romantic!
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59 comments:
Congrats on the van - And the vacuum! I'm sure both will be well used and appreciated! Sometimes 'romantic' is relative, right? :)
All of your children look Amazing! You are so lucky to have seven beautiful children. I pray that I am 1/2 as lucky.
Welcome to the world of driving a BMW (Big Mormon Wagon)! You'll love the van - couldn't live without our 15 passenger van. And yes, no frills is right someday I'll be able to drive a minivan with DVD, leather, etc but for now the kids come first!
Love reading your updates! You are setting a great example to all.
Sincerely,
Sharon in VA (a fellow BYU alumni)
All the babies are so cute! And Kassidy looks just like her dad!
I just had to come out of bloggerville silence and tell you that those are some of the prettiest newborns I think I've ever seen.
My goodness!
And as for the van - way to look on the bright side of life! I know it's no dream car, but at least you won't be in two separate large vehicles on cell phones navigating through the streets of wherever you're trying to get to! Ha!
Cheers~
They are all so so so cute!!! I hope it's not too long before we finally get to meet them!!
And i love the onsies on Kassidy and Ryder! Adorable! ;)
congratulations on the van. The babies are adorable!
Is that red hair I see?! They are just adorable! Congrats on the van. I have to admit I wouldn't be so excited about such a huge vehicle, either. What a blessing to have it, though!
Can't wait to see the beast! It looks like fun!! You crack me up!
Aww, what a beautiful family!! Thanks for sharing your website!
I wanted to also comment on the pix of the two oldest children in the van. I am a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST). The older children really need to be in Boosters, OR 5-point harness child restraints. Check out your State's law regarding booster seats. I think you will find legally they need to be in one.
Sincerely, Melissa
lovinwaves@juno.com
Congrats on the beast!!!!! They are growing so fast!!!
I just can't stay away from your site. Your babies are just too cute. I posted before - I'm new in your Aunt's ward in Gilbert and heard about your story. You'll love that van in the long run because it's so needed! I assume with 5 babies you have them on a pretty intense schedule. I always do a schedule with my babies and they end up sleeping through the night around 2-3 months! It's wonderful when that happens. However, for you if one starts doing it you still have to get up for the other ones until they ALL figure it out. Before you know it you'll be sleeping soundly! They look great!
So who does each of the kids look like???
They are adorable!!
The yare so cute. Are they all redheads? The pics look like it you should post and let us know since I know you have SO MUCH TIME. Boy time flys. You 2 really are amazing you never complain. Are you exhausted?
I've been reading your blog since before the quints were here! I am really excited to see you all at home and in your beautiful new nursery! Congratulations on your wonderful feat of doing so well with their birth weights! You are all very blessed.
Thanks for posting the kids' pictures. I love seeing them grow! I miss them.
The VAN/BEAST is fabulous! I'm just so timpressed with Jayson's company amd their generous donation of this blessed BEAST.
The babies are simply beautiful. I conintue to be totally amazed at their progress and well being.
Reflux+Bosch ,a mix made in Heaven.
Love Auntie V
I just have to know - is it the lighting in the photos, or do your babies have red hair? The Beast is beautiful - the mom of the babies is even more beautiful! Way to go guys!
The Beast is great :)
My daughter had reflux for a while. I feel your pain on the projectile vomiting. She was on meds for it for 8 months and now is fine.
The babies are gorgeous!!
Congratulations on the new vehicle! What a blessing for the big blessing of a family!!
I, too, am a CPST (child passenger safety tech) and agree that the big kiddos need boosters. They are just too little for regular seatbelts. As a Pediatric ICU nurse, as well, I have seen far too many tragic situations with children that were not in boosters. I know you are both excellent parents and would never want anything to happen to the 7 sweet blessings you have been given!!
Take care,
Jenna
Please, I heard Dad wondering "where" you were going to get a Van, and now that you have one generously given by a company the first paragraph is complaints about what it doesn't have. Do you know that there are multiple birth families where only the parents take care of the babies..You only say how lucky you are, I don't think you truly know...
ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE!! Wilkinson's we love you! You are ALL amazing!
This message is in regard to Janice's post. Apparently you don't know this family personally and you are using there blogs as a form of personal entertainment. It is never right to stand in judgement of someone you have never met. Maybe Rachelle and Jason's blog came off the wrong way, but every other thing they have said in there blogs indicate that they are very thankful for all of the things God has blessed them with.
Janice--
I am very sorry if my post sounded like I was in any way ungrateful for the van or the wonderful help that we have been receiving. The comments about the van were meant to be comical (think about one of those vans coming with a sunroof---it is a little funny, right???).
I have talked with several other multiples moms who have not been as fortunate as I have to receive so much help. Please know that I know that I have been extremely blessed and I am so thankful. I know that I will never be able to repay even a small percentage of the kindness that has been shown to me and my family, but I hope to be able to help others throughout my life to "pay it forward".
Rachelle
Thanks for setting me straight. I just wanted you to see that "hinting" for the need for anything portrays greed in my mind..I would love a new Hybrid car, at some point in my life, but I'm not going to blog, nor spread the word amongst my church and friends. I'll get it by scrimping and saving, and paying for it.
I am a friend of Danielle Clark..and also a mother of twins- I thought two babies was exciting, crazy, and hard...but look at you! 5 babies...I can't think of anything more amazing. I know its probably really hard to feel blessed all the time, but wow you really are! One day they better take GREAT care of you!!! congratulations on fabulous birth weights on all of them too- half of them out weighed my twins!
The babys are all gorgeous!! i can't believe how much they've grown, and how much they each resemble you and Jayson. i watched "The wilkinson Quint Show" episode two on Jayson's blog, and you look wonderful! i'm not sure i'd be looking so toned only two months after having quints! Well done!
oh, Congrats on the beast as well! hehe
Hailee
Victoria, BC
Canada
Thanks so much for sharing your new world with all of us. It is such a joy to see the two older children as the hosts of the video clips. What a great role for the two of them!
I find your "joking" about running over a small child with your new van in extremely poor taste and not in the least bit funny.
Hi!
I was having trouble getting through the blog to leave a comment....
Anyway, I'm glad to hear that everyone is doing great!!! The babies are so big already.....
Have you tried the stroller yet???
Take care adn keep us posted!!! I love to look at the pictures!!!!
Viviane
Most of us scrimp and save to get needed items for our families and I know for a fact that Jayson and Rachelle do the same thing. However, I can also rejoice for those people who are kind enough to help out another person in need. There are times in life when we can give and other times when we need to receive. Like most people out there I like to be on the giving end. The Wilkinson family has given so much to other people, and they still give by letting us help them. Thank You, Thank You.
Man I love those babies! I can't wait until friday! I need to get me some baby lovin!
The van rocks too. Embrace it.
It really bugs me when people like "Lora" take the time to leave a negative comment on someone else's blog. If she had TRULY read the post, she would have realized that it was not any kind of sick joke, it was a mere indicator of the height of the van.
Here's an idea "Lora": start your own politically correct, sarcasm free blog, and see how many people actually follow it.
Man, oh, man. I hate how serious the world has become these days. Rachelle - keep up the good work. Your blog is fun to follow.
Ok - to Miss "Anonymous" (as you refer to "Lora")and the rest of those who criticize the comments of the readers .... the comments of this family HAVE been rude and in poor taste. If they were truly thankful, you would think that they would realize that they need to be careful about what they post on a public web page they created. I, personally, am a Mom of multiples and have struggled, at times, to meet certain expensive needs of my family. Never have I created a public web page listing my needs nor have I hinted at needing a bigger vehicle nor told the press I still needed diapers. I think if the gifts are offered, it might be more appropriate to accept them in private, rather then making a request public. I am sure that this family is a sweet family. In fact, I had Rachelle as a Professor in the past. I can testify to her beautiful spirit. I just think, perhaps, this family should consider guarding themselves from the public a little bit more. And, when they decide to let the public into their personal lives, they should be cautious about what they say and the pictures they display (such as the older kids in the van that led to comments about proper car seat laws).
Anyway, just thought I would add something to these little debates going on.....
Best of luck to your family.
I don't know Rachelle and Jayson; however, I don't understand what the problem is. The people who gave to this family WANTED to give and, to me, it is CLEAR that this family needed these things. It is really hard to take care of one baby, let alone five. It is going to be tough for them to get through this first year and I say they should grab at all the help they can get, for their own sanity and their children's sake. I wish there were more words of encouragement and less bashing. Good luck to the Wilkinson's! Your babies are beautiful!
THese people want the best for their kids,sometimes we have to put our pride aside in order to do so. Please keep your negative comments to yourself. Why put sress in their already stressful lives...very selfish.
Seems to me 'Janice' is a little jealous. I would like to see you handle 5 kids as gracefully as this family...keep up the sarcasm, politically incorrect writings, this world has become WAY too serious!
they chose to have this lifestyle.... not that that is a bad thing... just considering that, they should probably be a little more considerate.
Choosing a difficult path does not mean that you shouldn't seek or accept help. From what I've seen, this family has said that they were grateful over and over and over as well as acknowledged those who helped them. Apart from that, if they have said something that offended you, please remember we're all human. I'm sure they didn't intend to upset anyone. Give them a break!
Also, your argument is faulty. Choosing a certain lifestyle does not relate to being considerate. For example, does it mean that if they hadn't chosen this lifestyle --imagine that they didn't have the option to reduce-- that it would be ok for them to be inconsiderate?
Congratulations on all of your beautiful children! As a fellow LDS mom and wife of a former NI guy, I'm so glad that the company was generous in donating this van to you. Drive safely (that thing must have a huge blindspot!) with your precious cargo! Your family is AMAZING, the help you are receiving is a blessing both for you and the ones helping you, and let the celebrations of these wonderful babies continue!
Clearly, the older children are posing for a picture in their wonderful new family van. They are not posing as poster children for child safety. I'm sure the booster seats were installed before their first ride in it.
How cute Rachelle! They are getting so big. Kaydence looks a lot like Jayson to me.
Thank you for sharing your incredible family with us, may you be just as blessed as your new lives unfold.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2LFo8vVi04
Watch the above link and if it doen't bother you at all then you aren't thinking with your children's best interest at heart.
Oh my, y'all need to lighten up--this woman just had 5 kids and if she wants to make a joke about a montster industrial van--she can. Seriously, I made jokes about my "mom car" all the time about the power it is lacking, the gold fish crumbs.
Just because this family was in the news does not mean they have to lose their sense of humor.
I don't know them personally. I had the pleasure of working w/ them on a professional level and the amount of love given to all of their children was amazing. God has blessed their family w/ children and a sense of humor!
Keep it going!
Congrat's on the new car (Van). What a blessing and I know you are feeling very blessed right now and enjoy you BMV (Big Mormon Vehicle).Your big kids and your little ones are adorable. Thanks for sharing and just remember they grow up WAY TO FAST. The first year will be rough, but with the Lord's help you will make it through. God bless you and your family.
HI, i met your friends in Las Vegas in Old Navy when they were buying up the whole store for your beautiful babies. They told me to check out your site and WOW! Your family is incredible! My sis has twins and i thought that she had it tough. Luckily, you have so much help. Rock on with the VAn, momma! Keep on updating the world and use this awesome life to do missionary work. I'm LDS too!
I dont know this family at all but have been so interested in their story. I think this post was actually quite funny. This familys life has changed so much in just the last couple of months leave her alone and let her tell her story any way she wants if you dont like it then dont read it!! It goes back to the old saying "if you dont have anything nice to say, dont say anything at all" Good luck with those beautiful babies.
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