Day in the Life/ Wheat Belly: Day 2

Today was better than yesterday. I didn't have any major headaches which was a blessing since there was very little down time until Jesse came home. The busyness was a good thing because it distracted me from opening the pantry door a dozen times just staring at graham crackers.

Here's a quick glimpse into our day:

6:30 a.m-Wake up, give babies bottles

6:45 a.m.-Complete 2nd day of 30 Day Shred (gasping for breath + sore muscles from yesterday)

7:30 a.m.-Let babies play on the floor while I hop in the shower, try not to pass out

7:45 a.m.-Shred chicken that had cooked in the crock pot all night, strain and save broth

8:00 a.m.-Fix breakfast (scrambled egg, cantaloupe, grated cheese, shredded chicken)

8-9 a.m. Rush to get four kids in clean diapers/underwear, clothes, feed them breakfast, pack lunchbox, and drop Jackson off at preschool

9:10 a.m. Realize I left Jackson's lunchbox on the counter. Drive back home.

9:30 a.m. Return to preschool with Jackson's lunch. Drive to WalMart.

9:45 a.m. Buy more dish detergent and wipes since we are out of both.

James would NOT leave Amelia alone!

10:30 a.m. Return home. Lay babies down in cribs for nap.

10:30-12:30 Stuff diaper inserts, wash dishes, sweep, do two loads of laundry

11:30-12:30 Maddie's Physical Therapy

12:30 p.m. Lunch (homemade chicken salad in lettuce wraps), gave babies bottles

1:00 p.m. Pick up Jackson, drive to museum, play

3:00 p.m. Come home. After coming home late every day last week, Jesse surprised us by leaving work early. Finally have a chance to unwind. Babies nap. Eat a handful of strawberries and pecans as a snack.

4:30 p.m. Cook dinner (shepherd's pie)

5:00 p.m. Eat 

The recipe I've been using calls for a rue so there's a nice gravy. Without the flour, there was a lot of excess liquid. I'll know next time to cut down on broth. The cauliflower mash on top was just as good as potatoes. 

5:30 p.m. Wash dishes. Clean up. Play with kids. Indulge in a square of 85% chocolate. It definitely hit the spot!

6:45 p.m. Bring babies upstairs. Begin bedtime routine.

7:00 p.m. Babies go to sleep. Cuddle with Jackson while watching Calliou.

That brings us up to speed. I told Jesse that I'm having a hard time deciphering whether or not I'm actually hungry throughout the day or if I'm just craving carbs and sugar. I have a strong urge to eat, but I'm not sure why. I can't wait for the constant cravings to go away. Once again, I desperately wanted to hit up the Bojangles drive-thru for Boberry biscuits (2 for $1.00) after being stressed out over Jackson's lunch. I refrained. It's so helpful knowing that Jesse is eating this way, too. I would feel so guilty if I ate sweet biscuits knowing that Jesse is snacking on celery and almond butter.  

Today was easier than yesterday. Let's hope tomorrow is easier than today.

A Day in the Life (SAHM to 8 Month Old Triplets and an Almost 3 Year Old)

Midnight: Pump. Go to sleep.

2:00 a.m. Wake up to Maddie fussing. Give her a pacifier repeatedly.  Eventually give her a 5 oz bottle of breastmilk. Go back to sleep.

5:00 a.m. Jesse wakes up for the day as usual and begins exercising.

5:30 a.m. I wake up and pump for 45 minutes.

6:15 a.m. I give Maddie her bottle and go back to bed.

6:30 a.m. Jackson wakes up.  Jesse gives him breakfast downstairs and gives James & Amelia their bottles in their crib.

7:00 a.m. Jesse leaves for work.  Jackson watches TV downstairs.  I sleep.

7:45 a.m. Maddie and Amelia wake up.  I ignore their babbles until 8.  (It was a late night last night.)

8:00 a.m. I take the girls downstairs to play.

8:15 a.m. I eat breakfast and stuff cloth diapers.



8:30 a.m. Make bottles. Puree strawberry and banana in food processor.

8:45 a.m. Give babies their bottles. Snuggle with Jackson on the couch.

9:00 a.m. Change babies' diapers. Wash bottles.

9:15 a.m. Feed trio strawberry banana. Make up silly songs.

9:45 a.m. Play with babies and Jack on the floor.  Encourage Maddie during tummy time.  Support Amelia while she sits.  Discourage Jackson from sitting on top of James.  Repeat. Finish stuffing and putting away diapers.

(Okay, I took this picture last week, but this is how tummy time always starts.)

10:30 a.m. Put babies in cribs for nap.

10:40 a.m. Call Maddie's case manager to check on PT services.  Ask if he received papers from neurologist. Check e-mail/Facebook.

11:00 a.m. Make Jackson lunch. (PB&J and strawberries) Heat up leftovers for myself.

11:15 a.m. Load the dishwasher.  Clean counters.

11:20 a.m. Pump for 40 minutes. Blog while Jackson watches TV.

12:00 p.m. Realize the TV has been on all morning.  Turn it off and do story time and crafts with Jack. 

1:15 p.m. Give Amelia, Maddie, and James a bottle as they wake up.  Each kid eats a graham cracker.  Jackson also eats a banana.

1:30 p.m. Change babies' diapers. Load everyone into the van and drive to rec center.

1:45 p.m. Unload van, load stroller, and take kids into gym for open play. Babies have tummy time or sit on blanket with toys.  Jackson and I play with gigantic blocks and bouncy balls and befriend another family.

3:20 p.m. Leave rec center.  Drive home.

3:30 p.m. Unload kids. Put babies in cribs for afternoon nap.  Play outside with Jackson. Fix popcorn for a snack.

3:45 p.m. Go inside to begin dinner preparations, unload dishwasher, sweep floors, clean counters/tables, etc. James refuses to nap.

4:30 p.m. Jesse comes home. I finish cooking dinner (shepherd's pie) while he plays with the kids.

5:00 p.m. Make bottles (5 oz formula) and give them to babies. Set the table. 

5:30 p.m. Eat dinner. Talk about our day.

6:00 p.m. Clean up. Do dishes. Sweep.

6:15 p.m. Unwind.  Zone out in front of TV/computer.  Eat ice cream. Cuddle with kids.

7:30 p.m. All six of us go upstairs to begin bedtime routine. Change babies' diapers and clothes. Jackson puts on pajamas and brushes teeth.

7:45 p.m. Jesse reads Jackson three stories in his bed while I pump.  I upload pictures from the day and blog.

8:00 p.m. Give babies final bottle of the day (5 oz breastmilk). Talk to/kiss babies. 

8:15 p.m. Put them in their cribs awake but sleepy. Jesse and I watch America's Test Kitchen/Cook's Country. Jesse inevitably falls asleep while I finish watching the show.

8:45 p.m. I use the computer or read until I eventually fall asleep (between 10-11 p.m.)

Middle of the night-Wake up to give pacifiers, bottles, use the bathroom, etc.

The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

When I pulled into the garage after Maddie's appointment yesterday, Jesse was already home so the car was parked on the left side.  It was just Maddie and I in the van.  Maddie is on the driver's side. I quickly unbuckled her and carried her inside to tell Jesse about the appointment.

This morning I decided to take the kids to an indoor playground.  I loaded all four kids into the van, but I had apparently parked too close to the right side wall yesterday.  I couldn't walk around to buckle Jackson's carseat.  I secured the babies and told Jackson to wait just a moment; I was going to back out of the garage and walk around to his side to buckle him in.

The right side van door was open.
I put the van in reverse.
I heard a scraping sound.
I drove forward to straighten the van out.
I reversed again into the driveway.
I put the van in park and walked around to Jack's side.
I buckled Jackson's carseat.
I pressed the button to close the automatic van door.
I heard more sounds of metal scraping.
I took the keys out of the ignition and began to investigate.

I could not have been going any faster than 2 mph.  And yet I managed to catch part of the van door on the garage track.  The automatic van door became completely misaligned and would NOT close.

I cursed a lot.
Jackson cried because he couldn't get out on his side and he wanted to go to the playground.
The neighbor came over and tried to help me shut the van door.
We were able to close it enough where there was just a small opening.

I covered Jackson in a blanket and drove to the dealership.
The van beeped loudly throughout the entire ride since the door wasn't closed. 
Jackson requested I turn the radio up.
I drove through the service area at the dealership.
The service worker informed me that I would have to go to the body repair shop.
I drove to the body repair shop.
After an hour with four children, the repairman gave me the cost estimate:
It will cost $963 and take four days to fix the van.

I asked the repairman if he could close the door completely. 
He bent some metal and pushed so hard that the van shook. 
I cranked the van and was relieved that the beeping had stopped and the door was shut. 
I vowed to never open the right side door again.
I drove home.

Once back in the driveway at home, I pressed the garage door opener.
The garage door got stuck after opening a mere foot.
I army crawled through the garage to determine the problem.
I was able to open the garage door by applying weight against the door.
I drove the van in through the garage.

I cursed some more and drank a beer.

A Day in the Life: 6 Week Old Triplets and a Toddler

6 a.m. 
Jesse wakes up and takes a shower while I pump.  I feed/change Maddie while he feeds/changes Amelia and James.  Jackson sleeps in our bed.

7 a.m.
Jesse leaves for work.  I shower and dress before going downstairs to begin any laundry, dishes, sweeping, etc.  I boil the bottles and pump parts at this time every morning.

8:30 a.m.
Jackson wakes up.  I help him get dressed, read a story to him, and make him breakfast (normally a mini bagel with cream cheese or oatmeal and yogurt).

9 a.m.
I get whichever two babies are starting to wake up out of their cribs and begin morning feeds in the nursery.  When the two are finished, I prop them up on boppy pillows and get the third up.  I then begin the assembly line of changing and dressing each baby.  Jackson either assists me or plays upstairs.

9:40 a.m.
Pump (This is my time to watch TV or use the computer).  Babies are normally on floor mat for tummy time or in their swings.  Jackson likes to watch cartoons downstairs and play independently with blocks, cars, etc.  He goes upstairs to check on me at least five times.  When I'm finished I get bottles ready for the next feeding. 

10:00 a.m.
Bring babies downstairs.  Go for a family walk in the jogging stroller or load everyone up in the van for an outing.  (If we go out we aren't back until 11:30 or later.)  Babies almost always fall asleep in their car seats/stroller.  I make sure to exhaust Jackson so that he will want to nap later!

11:00 a.m.
Babies nap in pack-n-play, bouncer, my arms, wherever.  I switch out laundry, take out trash, unload dishwasher, etc. 

11:30 a.m.
I fix lunch for Jackson and I (chicken nuggets/mac-n-cheese, grilled cheese, ravioli, etc).  We eat together at the kitchen table.

Noon
Feed all three babies on the couch.  Watch Chugginton or Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (On Demand) with Jackson.  I bottle prop with James and/or Amelia and keep Madeline on my legs.  Change diapers.

Clifford makes the best bottle prop!

12:30-2:30 p.m.
Activity Time for babies, play with Jackson (read stories, Play Dough, kitchen, etc).  Maddie normally dozes off again at some point, but James and Amelia remain alert.  I pump again as close to 1 p.m. as possible.  This is by far the hardest time to balance interacting with all four kids and keeping everyone happy. 

2:30 p.m.
Jackson has quiet time in his room until he falls asleep.  He is really great about taking a solid 2-hour nap every day.  I bring the babies upstairs for cuddles, diaper changes, and afternoon feeding.

3:15 p.m.
Babies take nap together in pack-n-play in our bedroom.  While all four nap, I go downstairs to sweep and mop.  I also boil bottles and pump parts again.  (This will probably become my time to start dinner preparations, but I haven't had to cook dinner yet since the church committed to bringing us meals the first six weeks!)

3:45 p.m.
Unwind (TV, blog, nap, etc).  Pump.  Prepare bottles for next feed. 

The babies eat between 3.5--4 ounces of expressed breastmilk every 3 hours during the day.

4:30 p.m.
Jesse comes home from work.  We have a few minutes to debrief about our day before Jackson wakes up.  We give Jackson a snack and hang out before the babies wake up.

5:30 p.m.
If babies aren't already awake, we start to bring them downstairs and feed them just before six o'clock.  We set the table and get dinner ready. 

6:00 p.m.
Eat dinner.  We try to put the babies in the swing or bouncer, but Jesse and I almost always end up each holding or feeding a baby in our laps while we eat. 

6:30 p.m.
I clean up and do dishes while Jesse interacts with babies.  He watches TV or reads.

  

7:00 p.m.
Pump and prepare bottles...AGAIN. 

I pump for 20 minutes and get between 9-12 ounces each session.

7:15 p.m.
Play outside if it's not raining or too hot.  We race Jackson in the driveway, go for a walk around the neighborhood, pretend to mow the lawn, etc.  The babies are in a stroller, bouncers, or on a blanket in the grass.

8:00 p.m.
Bathe Jackson (every other day) and babies (1-2 a week).



8:30 p.m.
All six of us are upstairs getting ready for bed.  We go through the assembly line of diaper changes, pajamas, and swaddles.  The babies lay on our bed while Jesse and I spend a few precious minutes with Jackson.  Jack gets to pick out two stories (one of which is always If You Give a Mouse a Cookie).  Jesse reads the books while I rub Jackson's back.  We tuck Jack into bed and close the door.  (If you recall, just two months ago Jackson's bedtime routine consisted of an hour or more of stories, rocking, singing, etc!)

8:45 p.m.
Jesse and I feed the trio in bed while watching TV.

9:00 p.m.
Put James and Amelia in their cribs in the nursery.  Put Maddie in the pack-n-play in our bedroom.  (Madeline will return to her crib whenever we get her reflux under control.  Until then, I want my baby close by.)

Jesse falls asleep almost instantly.  I spend up to an hour power pumping while blogging, checking Facebook, etc.  I fall asleep between 10-10:30.

2:00 a.m.
Middle of the night feed.  Jesse feeds/changes Amelia and James in the nursery while I pump and feed/change Maddie in bed.  If the babies wake up before then, we try to stall them.  Most of the time they only wake up at 2 and 6.  I get the bottles ready for the next feed and am asleep within 30-45 minutes.  Even though Jesse feeds two babies, he is always asleep before me.

At some point between 2-6 Jackson comes to our bed.

6:00 a.m.
Repeat the day all over again.