Four Plus an Angel by Jessica Watson

Life after loss with autism, preemies and a rainbow baby

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Growing Old Healthy

By Jessica

I was compensated to share my thoughts and feelings about Henry Ford Health System but all thoughts expressed are my own.  My grandmother turned 90 in July. For her 90th birthday present all of the grandkids put together a video of our favorite memories with Grandma. The memories ranged from special trips for ice cream […]

Parenting through the in between years of childhood

By Jessica

With my youngest now seven, I can open the door to our car and my kids all just get in and when I cook dinner there’s a decent chance I’ll get to eat it while it’s hot. My kids are all aging out of the neediest* part of their childhood and as much as I worried about […]

Not Alone in the Universe

By Jessica

We went to see Suessical last weekend. In case you don’t know the storyline it’s about Horton, an elephant with a big imagination, who connects to a Who named JoJo with an imagination the same size. JoJo lives in Whoville, a town the size of a spec on a clover, so no one believes Horton when he tells them […]

On being a perfect parent

By Jessica

Sawyer is our wiggliest sleeper. Family dinner conversations often turn into debates over what he’s doing in his sleep. Votes vary but we’re pretty sure he dreams of marathon running, sheet origami, soccer drills or tae kwon do. His sleep habits are in direct disagreement with his need for someone close all. the. time. Born the youngest of […]

Like the boys

By Jessica

I took the kids to see “Alice Through the Looking Glass.” Parker had been counting down the days until its release.  Unbeknownst to me, he had also been debating on what costume to wear to the movie theater since seeing the trailer. He came downstairs ready for the show wearing an orange wig and the […]

My children’s book for preemies is here!

By Jessica

The first time my kids emptied out their big sister’s books and made small towers of their reading selections they all still fit in my lap and there was no pressure to encourage anyone to sound out anything. Looking back this was such a luxury but I’m sure at the time I was wishing someone’s […]

What to read next

By Jessica

I had planned to write a post soon after the New Year to give all of my “what to read next” recommendations but here we are two months in to 2016 and I’m finally getting my list together. At least I’ve read even more books so there’s more to chose from. Last year I set […]

You’re a good mom

By Jessica

A funny thing happens when I get ready to meet a new group of moms. I psyche myself out by assuming no one will “get” me. It’s rare to find a mom with exactly the same circumstances as you right? Like maybe we should all wear shirts with a summary of our situation. “Loss mom, […]

We are not dog people

By Jessica

The story will always begin something like this: I was sitting in a chair by myself, no one squeezed between my hip and the armrest or perched over my head.  My phone was in my hand because no one had taken it to watch adults talk in children’s voices while they review toys on YouTube […]

What they need most

By Jessica

When my preemies were in the NICU there were days we could barely touch them. Their daily condition dictated how much holding we could do, how often I could sneak a hand inside their incubators and whether they were up for a sponge bath or an increase in tube feedings. Parker was my tiniest, yet healthiest. […]

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About me

Jessica Watson

I'm Jessica, 40-something mom to five, four in my arms and one in my heart.

On any given day you will find me taxi-ing teenagers, mopping up our latest "art project" and trying to remember when I turned the crock pot on… all the while, looking for the closest Starbucks drive thru.

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autism tab

grief tab

teen parenthood

Favorite Posts

  • A musical life
  • Always be you
  • It's not permanent
  • My One
  • The Stone

@fourplusanangel on Instagram

Is your house getting quiet as your kids get older Is your house getting quiet as your kids get older? Get a teen who rescues animals. Our house guests just keep getting more interesting. 
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#devotedbarn #rescuepig #olivetherescuepig #animalrescue #friendsnotfood #pigsofinstagram #neveradullmoment
Finally don’t have to worry about looking at the Finally don’t have to worry about looking at the right spot in a selfie.
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#skiiing #maskup #puremichigan #getoutside #isuckatselfies #familyskiing #motherhoodunplugged #pineknob #parentingteens
Love the first good snow, and not just because it Love the first good snow, and not just because it seems to insulate the noise level of my boys when we bring them to the barn.
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#horsesofinstagram #willowtreestables #firstsnow #puremichigan #boymom #motherhoodunplugged #barnlife
We decorated really early this year but I’m alre We decorated really early this year but I’m already finding myself disappointed that soon the decorations will come down. I love the softness of a home decorated for the holidays and coffee in front of a tree every morning.

I wish this year could be more “normal” but I’m not mad about the extra time I’ve had with kids who are at an age where they’d be more than happy to leave us for long stretches of time.

I’d love to shrink them into elf costumes and Christmas countdowns and easy surprises.

#parkerpretends #parkerpretendsforchristmas  #costumer #holidays #christmas #parentingteens #motherhoodunplugged #tbt
She would live in a barn. For real. . . . . . #mc She would live in a barn. 
For real.
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#mckennakaren #farmgirl #barnchores #momlife #horsegirl #motherhoodunplugged
We changed up our nails in support of @trevormicha We changed up our nails in support of @trevormichae1 today. 
As a mom I want to thank you Trevor for leading the way for us. We need to see you ahead of us and happy.

Hoping our manicuring sessions last long past when we can head back out into the world post pandemic.

Love my brave boy and am pretty impressed by his polishing skills. One more thing he can do for me when I’m old and even less coordinated than I am now.
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#teamtrevor #genderstereotypes #colorstreet #motherhoodunplugged #motherhoodrising
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