Keepin' It Real

This post is dedicated to those who think I live in a world of rainbows and sunshine.

This is a very typical scene that happens multiple times a day at our house: 

Thankfully, it only takes a few minutes to get everything under control again.  But those few minutes sometimes feel like eternity.

Just keepin' it real, friends!

"What did you just say?"

Per request from my sister, here's a list of some of the crazy comments people have felt so inclined to make:

During pregnancy

Shopper at Ross while staring at my insanely large belly:
"You must be having twins!"
     "Actually, triplets"
"Did you plan that?"

Conversation with a mother in my April 2011 Birth Club:
"When are you due?"
     "August 5, but I have a scheduled C-section for 37 weeks."
"I've never understood elective C-sections.  You ought to let the babies decide."
(While I 100% agree with her statement, she clearly didn't realize how incredible 37 weeks with triplets truly is!  Very, very little about my pregnancy was "elective".)

Stranger in the mall when I was 7 months pregnant:
"Oh girl.  You look like you are ready to pop."
    "Actually, I hope to make it another two months."
"How many are in there?"
     "Three"
"I had a ten pound baby so I know how you feel!"

Unsolicited advice from another triplet mom:
"There's no difference between 34 and 36 weeks.  You're going to need that time to recover while they are in the NICU."

Fifth grader in my class when finding out I was pregnant with triplets:
"So they got three different daddies?"


Since having the triplets

Lady at mall:  (I was wearing Maddie and had James and Amelia in double stroller.)
"Twins?"
    "Triplets." pointing to Ergo
"Oh my God.  I would kill myself."

Comment from a friend of the family:
"Triplets?  I don't know if I should give you my congratulations or condolences!"

Man at grocery store who randomly walked up to me:
"I'll pray for you." 

College student:
"What do you do when they are all hungry?"
     "Feed them."

Conversation with a new church member:
"What do the babies eat?"
   "Breastmilk"
"All of them?"
   "Yes"
"They must be starving."
     "Excuse me?"
"You can't make enough!"

Stranger while shopping:
"Aww!  What do you have?  Girls?  Boys?"
     "Two girls and a boy"
"Are they all identical?"  
    
Older woman at church in mid-August:
"Who's home with the babies?"
     "They are in the nursery."
"You took them out already?"
     "Yes. They're a month old."
"Those babies are going to catch a cold.  Take them home."

Comment from old lady at a restaurant:
"Triplets? You and your husband must go at it like rabbits!"

Most frequent question from dozens of strangers"
"Are they natural?"  (FYI, the correct term is "spontaneous".  No triplet mom has plastic children.)

Marvelous Monday

Reasons why we had a marvelous Monday:

1. Jackson was begging to go to the library as soon as he woke up.  We went to an earlier storytime than usual that was exceptionally crowded, which meant I couldn't take the stroller into the room.  Maddie was in the Ergo and I had to carry Amelia and James in their carseats without hitting toddlers.  While everyone else just stared, another woman got up and asked if I needed help.  It turns out she had 3-year old triplets.  We talked afterwards and compared pregnancies and such.  I've never met another mom with young triplets, so it was great to know of one so nearby.

2. Jesse texted to tell me he's decided to take next Tuesday off.  He wants to go to Jackson's Thanksgiving feast at school and he has a dentist appointment that afternoon.  This means he works one day next week, then we get six consecutive days to spend with family!

3. Little Caesar's had their monthly VIP special.  I bought a pizza for $3.99 and took it to the park for lunch.

4. The babies are pros at bottle propping!

5. Tummy time was spent outside enjoying 70 degree weather and clear, blue skies.

6. We finally remembered to take the football to the park so Jackson and I could play. 

Of course, he also had fun at the playground.

7. We officially broke out the exersaucer for our big boy today.

8. Jackson has suddenly become Mr. Helpful.  He entertains the babies, puts his toys back without being asked, puts his dishes in the dishwasher, gives the babies pacifiers, etc.  Not to say that he didn't go to time out and still have to be redirected, but he's been amazing the past few days!

9. Jesse came back from the grocery store yesterday with Magic Shell.  While Jackson, James, and Amelia napped, Maddie and I cuddled.  I ate ice cream with Magic Shell and watched Masters of Sex from the DVR.  Relaxed to the max!

10. National Boards finally sent out an e-mail saying scores will be released this Saturday.  I've been waiting 6 months to find out if I passed or not.  I'm excited and nervous.  It doesn't matter one way or another right now since I'm not currently teaching.  And I can't have too high of expectations since it's really rigorous and most people don't pass the first time.  Either way, I'm anxious to finally get the results. 

11.  I pumped enough extra milk for the first time in almost a month to be able to freeze. 

12. Jesse and I got free tickets to the Shriner's Circus for Saturday.  I arranged childcare for the triplets with my sister so we get to do something special with just Jackson.  We looked at pictures after dinner tonight of circs elephants, tigers jumping through hoops of fire, and clowns.

All of this in one day = pretty awesome!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

I am well aware that it is only mid-November and I shouldn't even be allowed to post this until after Thanksgiving.  With that said, I am so excited about Christmas this year!  Three things happened yesterday that filled me with Christmas glee.

1. We had our photo shoot for the Christmas cards.  As you read from the last post, it was a bit of a headache.  However, wrapping presents, buying traditional Christmas pajamas, and taking pictures makes me so happy!

2. Jackson convinced Mr. Scrooge himself (aka Jesse) to buy this inflatable Santa Claus while grocery shopping yesterday.  Jackson could not be more excited about Christmas this year, though I'm trying to keep it minimal. 

3. This adorable ornament arrived in the mail, courtesy of my thoughtful mother-in-law.

Bring on the advent wreaths/calendar, carols, decorating, presents, baking, pajamas, and family gatherings.  I'm ready!

How to Create Christmas Cards

Much like everything else I do, a simple photo idea turned into a tedious, semi-stressful process.  The end result was unexpected but successful.  Here are the steps I followed:

1. Surf the web for hours for a cute Christmas photo idea that includes triplets and a toddler.  Accept limitations that babies can't sit unassisted and Maddie still doesn't lift her upper body while on the floor.

2. Fall in love with this picture: 

stolen from this fellow triplet mom's blog

3. Find a box that fits all three babies snuggly enough to keep them upright and sturdy enough that it doesn't fall over.

4. Wrap box in festive wrapping paper after everyone goes to bed.

5. Realize the wrapping paper is sideways.  Curse while wrapping it again.  Line the inside and all edges with clear packing tape to avoid tears.

6. Create a lid using scraps of cardboard; then wrap lid.

7. Use Target gift card to buy adorable, coordinating Christmas pajamas.

8. Schedule an appointment at a portrait studio.  Wait in crowded studio and listen to sales pitches for ridiculously expensive packages.

9. Like, but not love, portrait studio pictures.  Pay $18 for $144 worth of unimpressive prints using promotion. 

10. Stubbornly decide to conduct personal photo shoot in bedroom.

11. Take a few cute pictures. 

12. Keep photographing to the point of pissing everyone off (babies, toddler, husband, and self). 

13. Strangely like the "bad" picture the best.  Edit photo and add funny caption.

14. Upload photo to Walgreens.  Create and order 20 Christmas cards for $12 using promotional code.   Include portrait studio pictures in envelope for those who prefer more traditional pictures.

4 Months Old

sleeping habits: If you've been reading monthly updates, you probably have this memorized, because nothing has changed since 6 weeks old!  After eating, changing, and swaddling around 8:30 p.m. James and Amelia wake up around 2:00 and 6:00 AM.  James and Amelia sleep in their individual cribs in the nursery.  Maddie sleeps in our bedroom, either in the pack-n-play or in our bed.  She wakes up to eat around 4 AM and again at 7 AM.  All three wake up for good by 9 AM.

All three babies nap during each feeding cycle.  Sometimes they sleep 20 minutes within a 3 hour period; sometimes they sleep 90 minutes.  Truly, they should go to bed at 7:30 because that is when they are cranky and inevitably fall asleep downstairs.  We just wait to put them to bed later so we can keep the feeding times consistent and all six of us can get ready for bed at the same time.  This allows Jesse and I to have a longer stretch of sleep.

eating habits: 
All babies continue to receive 100% expressed breastmilk.  They still eat every three hours during the day (9 AM., noon, 3 PM, 6 PM, 9 PM) and twice at night.  James and Amelia eat 4.5 oz at each feed. Maddie eats 4 ounces.

milestones:
James-excellent head control, rolls from tummy to back, sleeps six consecutive hours, babbles, laughs, sucks hand
Amelia-keeps head and upper body up for extended periods of time, sleeps six consecutive hours, coos, grabs and pulls at things (especially my hair)
Madeline-babbles constantly, smiles/interacts with people, sleeps 6-8 consecutive hours, less frequent reflux, discovered hands and fingers

challenges:
-Everything related to insurance has been a nightmare!  The babies haven't seen the pediatrician since they were 2 weeks old, but it is not from a lack of trying.  Despite multiple calls, visits, and waiting at DSS, our insurance cards still do not have the correct Primary Care Physician listed.  Our beloved pediatrician left the practice to be a stay-at-home mom.  We looked for a new office but none are accepting new Medicaid patients.  The babies are now behind on their 2 month and 4 month shots.

victories:
-Maddie has gained full control of her neck, thanks to the amazing Dr. Greenberg.
-I'm enjoying a couple extra hours a week of cuddles and downtime with the babies while Jackson is at preschool two mornings a week.
-The babies had several first family traditions, including fall festival, Halloween candy swap, and annual beach trip.  They are such easy babies when it comes to travel and public outings.
-Watching babies begin to interact with one another!

special notes:
-All three babies are drooling like crazy, especially James.  Jackson got his first tooth at 5 months old, so early teething is something we are prepared for.

James, Strong and Silly

Apparently, James requires more space nowadays.  He has just started to consistently roll over, though he has a bit of a roadblock sometimes. 

 

While I didn't post this video on Facebook because he spits up a bit, I am secretly humored by the fact that Maddie's finally getting some payback for the many times she has thrown up on James!