I spoke to soon

I said January was the sick month? HA OMG. No.. omF'ing GOD. That about covers it. It's been another freakin miserable month. This time, RSV. Again. And I got so sick.. omg.. sick. These last 10 days have been a fog. Seriously. I have like no memory of them as I have one night with a stretch of 6 hours straight of sleep in the last 3 weeks. Maybe more.

No one tells you about these things before you have kids. No one talks about the fun it is when they get sick. I guess I'm glad about that cause I'm not sure if I would have wanted kids! LOL But I really have to say, I honestly believe I do have it worse than most people with kids. I know.. that's a bold statement, but I do and there's nothing anyone can change my mind about that right now.

Let me explain.

First.. sick kids suck. This IS a fact. Whether they are 3 months, 3 years or 13. I am sure they all suck. But 3 year olds suck big time. They are not quite.. they are o.. so close.. but not quite able to tell you exactly where it hurts. First.. I'll say.. does your ear hurt? Yes. Does your head hurt? Yes. Does your left toe hurt? Yes. Does your wee wee hurt? Yes. You get the drift. It ALL hurts.
So I still don't exactly know how sick they really are unless.. they get really fucking sick and it's obvious. Which.. they did. Nate narrowly escaped hospitalization on Monday night.

Second.. I have two kids who've been diagnosed with Asthma. So when they get a cold, they get it bad. Really bad. We've had fevers, ear infections, vommitting, and last but not least, that fucking nebulizer.. it's so loud.. but I don't even hear it anymore. It runs 24-7. In fact.. it started to conk out the other day until I threw it on the floor and it started working again. So guess what I'll be doing on Monday? Hauling my ass as fast I as I can go to the nearest DME vendor for another one. And we really need another one anyway. Do you know how much of your day is eaten up when you have 3 kids who need to be nebulized 4 times a day with one nebulizer?

Third... I have 3 kids who are the same age. No.. you two kids who are 1.5 years apart are not "almost twins" or your 3 kids under 3 are not "almost triplets". They're not. They have the same basic needs, but not the same needs. And even if you are reading this with triplets or quads.. you don't have the three head strong.. OCD.. sassying.. rough and tumble boys I have. They are I.N.S.A.N.E right now. I mean insane.

Fourth... I have 3 kids who are bad sleepers when they are not sick let alone when they are. I am lucky if I get one or two stretches of two consecutive hours of sleep. And this is how I live my days. with no more than 4 hours of sleep.

And this brings me to 5...

I have to go to work. So I'm gone 7am - 5:30pm. And I have to think while I'm there. A lot. It's hard.

And I'm tired.

The sick month

I don't know what it is about January, but I'm starting to not like it. At all. Not a fan. Not at all.

When the boys were 10 weeks old, they were admitted on New Years Day 2009. All three with RSV and Pneumonia. After two weeks in the hospital for them, one tank of my nursing supply, one night in the ER for me on the verge of a nervous breakdown later... they came home and I basically had to start all over with three newborns again as any weight, feeding and sleeping progress was shot to shit. Not to mention the complete lock down we were on from visitors or me and my mom leaving the house.

January, 2010 was rather uneventful as we had a nanny and the boys never left the house! lol

However, January 2011.. a different story. It started first with the stomach flu that was caught from Jeff's brother and daughter on Christmas Eve. That went through all of us for the entire week between christmas and new years. Then, our nanny got called for Jury duty and I had to send the boys to daycare as a back up plan. Big mistake. Not only did our nanny get SELECTED for the jury.. we lost her for 3 weeks. The boys ended up with RSV and pneumonia again and we narrowly escaped hospitalization again for Ben and Alex. After that, our nanny came back and promptly gave us all the stomach flu again. Ahh yes.. good times were had by all.

Now.. here we are again. The fevers started on Christmas Eve and again, ran the entire week between Christmas and New Years. Then, the coughing started and ran through. We were healthy about a week and bang.. on Monday.. the 16th, it started again. And all this week, sick. Me included. No RSV this time so far, but Ben and Nate are on the nebulizer again and have had bought of vomiting.

It sucks no matter what to see your kids sick. And to be sick while trying to care for them. And then, get no sleep and get up and go to work in the morning and function at a high stress high profile job sucks even more. And it sucks even more to deal with the above alone when your husband is out of the country for work.

Is it Spring yet?

Hello 2012, Good Bye Carbs...

I am sitting at my computer doing two things:
1. stalling taking the decorations off the Christmas Trees. Yes.. plural. Trees.
2. Eating my last carbs for the forseeable future. Tortilla chips and dip.

Jeff and I started the no carb diet in the beginning of October and in 6 weeks, we had both lost over 10 pounds. Of course both of us were like... what in the sam hell were we thinking giving up carbs when it's our boys birthday, Halloween, Cider and donut season at the Cider mills in Michigan! Hello!!! Idiots!! But.. we did it anyway. We did, however, decide to stop it between Thanksgiving and the New Year. So tomorrow.. we're back. And today, I was back at the gym.

I'll be honest. I want to lose 25 more pounds. And when I do.. I'm doing it. Plastic surgery baby. Tummy tuck, here I come. It will either be this summer or next. Not sure yet. But I'm ready to get my body back. I am REALLY ready to feel good about myself again.

Carbs... I won't miss you. I really won't!

So we rang in the New Year at a wedding this year. Our former nanny got married. She was a great nanny and is clearly close with her new family, but I couldn't help but think, we had a great nanny in her, but we have a fan-fucking-tastic nanny in our new one.

We got home just at midnight to ring in the new year with my mom. We finally hit the sack at about 1ish. And then it started: Kids.. up.crying.all.fucking.night. I think Jeff and I may have slept two broken hours each. We were MISERABLE all day. And of course, we had big dinner party plans at his aunts house. We pulled it together and went and let the boys run wild.

The boys are awesome.

Alex has this new thing where he says he wants to read ME the good night story! He loves to read me the Grinch and Jingle Bells. Of course, it's really just telling me what is going on in the pictures, but it is the cutest damn thing and he's actually pretty good at it!

Nates latest cuteness started the night we went to the Toledo Zoo to see The Lights Before Christmas. It was gorgeous! Nater wasn't feeling the best that day but we decided to go. He was a little upset during our stay and cried a couple times. Each time he would cry, he would say "Mama.. please wipe my tears.. they're cold". Omg.. melt. And since then, he has kept asking me to wipe his tears when he cries. Of course my baby. I will ALWAYS wipe your tears!

Ben.. ahhhh Ben. My sweet Ben. He's well.. not so sweet right now. He's come into his 3's with a vengence these past couple of weeks. And he's sneaky about it too. I think since he's spent the least amount of time in time out, he thinks he's above it for some reason. I'll tell him to go and he'll say "no.. I don't need to". Mmmmkay. Thanks. Yes you do!

They're all stinkers.

Tomorrow school is back. Amen.
Tomorrow, work is back. Shit.

Resolutions

I am going to keep this blog up this year. It's going to be my diary. My way to track everything. And it should have been that way for the past 3 years, but really, I've been too busy. I know that sounds like a cop out but I really am that busy.

So it's 2012 and I have 3 year old triplets. 3 year old triplets who kept me up all.night.long. We were dumb enough to think we could go out last night so we did. We went to a wedding. it was gorgeous! loved the centerpieces and the great food. And we got home and hit the bed by 1am. Then it started up about 1;30. Ben was up and down all night. He'd been fighting a fever earlier in the week and yesterday, we spent our new years eve morning at Jungle Java, a local indoor play space and I seriously think he caught the plague.

Now.. I've been to Jungle Java with them a couple times before. The first time, I don't remember thinking bad things. The second time, I did think bad things but thought maybe it was an off day for them. This time.. nope. We will never go back there. IT'S FUCKING DISGUSTING. Like I want to call the health department disgusting. Like, I am calling the corporate office disgusting. Revolting. We walked in at 9:30. They opened at 9. On the floor was a nasty pile of dorito's and dirt. You can't tell me that one of the other 3 families in there fed their kids dorito's for breakfast and let them smash them all over the floor in less than 30 minutes.
Um yeah. And if they are not mopping the floor or vacuuming, then I can safely assume they are not climbing up in the play structures to wipe them down at night or throughout the day either.

My two friends and I who met there and account for 9 children between us were all grossed out. So.. stay tuned for that.

So 2012 is here and I am REALLY looking forward to the year for a few reasons:
1. My boys will continue to grow and learn. Hopefully this means a little less drama and fighting at home.
2. Our jobs are going great and hopefully that will also continue
3. We're doing a shit ton of work on our house and we are really looking forward to making it truly everything we want it to be.
4. Jeff and I both started dieting in October and had lost about 12-15 pounds before we took this last month off between the holidays. We are celebrating today with lasagna and garlic bread and on Tuesday, we are 1000% back on our diets with some very focused goals. I know we can do it and am totally looking forward to looking OUR very best in 2012!!

Crazy Good

Things are well.. crazy good! Where to even begin? It's been a month of firsts at our house!

The month started of September started off with a bang. The bang of the back door and watching Jeff go out of it! He was sent to London again for an ongoing work project and this time, for two weeks. I had known about the trip for about a month and when he told me, it didn't occur to me what that trip was coinciding with around the house: School starting. I had never had a child start school before, so it just didn't dawn on me till he was leaving.

I had two parent/teacher nights. Two meet the teacher days. Two first days of school. Followed up with Ben's surgical follow ups, my dental appointments... I was sure I was going to get fired for being a single parent! But we made it through and the boys are just thriving with their new routine. In fact...dare I even say it? They are sleeping through the night! sshhhhhhh!

Jeff was back two days and then we were off on our first trip together in 4.5 years. We spent 4 glorious nights in Las Vegas. It was heaven! Of course we missed our army of little men, but it was sooo nice to sleep, eat, drink, spa and do anything we wanted when we wanted for 4 days!

Now that we're back, things have not slowed down at all. We had company this past weekend and now I am in full on birthday party planning and mom to mom sale mode. Getting ready for both!

The boys? what can I say. Every day is something new.

Ben.. loves to tell us: Not yet! No! Not yet! When he hears "I got a feeling" by the black eye'd peas, he goes nuts! Always dancing lately. And when he wants to do something he knows he shouldn't.. he tell us to 'go away' or 'turn around'. lol you gotta love that! He came through surgery on both of his hands and hardly slowed down despite having both hands totally wrapped for over a week and then smaller wraps after for 2 more weeks. The only real issue he had was eating. We had to help with that!

Nate..his big thing these days is "do it myself" or to "go upside down". I must hear these two phrases a million times a day. he is so brave and so strong. nothing physical scares him, that's for sure.

Oh.. and nate and ben LOVE LOVE LOVE to go to school on the bus. They sing wheels on the bus ALL.THE.TIME.

Alex... he is so mindful of his surroundings and getting really in tune to people. Yesterday we were watching the first Shrek and when donkey discovers the fire breathing dragon is a girl and "likes" him, Alex, who was very seriously watching the movie turned around and said "momma!!! that dragon is happy!!!!" She sure is my little man! Alex is also potty trained going on 3 months now! Hope his brothers follow suit soon!

Lastly, I love that they all are in tune to each and know they are brothers. In the morning, no matter who I get out of bed first, he will say "mama.. where are my brothers? Can I go get my brothers?"

Sigh... love!!

Best layed plans..

So much for my new years resolution to update the blog more often. Yes.. I suck. I really do *think* about updating the blog at least 2 or 3 times a week. That has to count for something, right? I have to laugh.. when I do think to update it, it's always at work when I should be... well.. working. I find my mind will wander and think.. gee.. I'd love to write about xyz on the blog! But alas... blogs are blocked at work. No go. Then I think.. yep.. tonight is the night! I am going to update the blog. And I forget... until I am at work again.

Things are crazy as usual. I have realized I no longer say "when things calm down" because I really don't see that they will in the near future. Our house is continuous chaos. Every week is a sprint to the weekend when hopefully I can slip a nap in somewhere or cross something off my to do list that usually involves the house.

The boys.. oh those boys. GOD they are changing! The language that is going on in my house is just pure amazing. Everyday... there is something new. Every time an airplane flies overhead, all three stop and yell "AIRPLANE!!!!". Jeff even has them going "da plane! da plane!" his very own little Tatoo's! When we ride down the road, there is "what's that?" "tree", "truck", "big truck" and on Sunday, we rode by a church and Alex said "look momma! A castle!" and then on our way to meet friends at a playground he said "look! A farm!" We just sit back and wonder.. where does he come up with this stuff?

And Ben? BEN... came up to me TWICE on Sunday and said "I pooped" OMG... love it.

Nate? He is in this phase where "it hurts", "mommy... help". I am happy to kiss any and all boo boos he has.

Today was monumental for another reason: For the first time, Alex asked to go potty on the potty chair with out being prompted! He did it! And then we turned around to see Nate pee'ing on the floor! oh well.. we can't win them all. But it's a start.

The boys continue to amaze me daily. Things are getting a bit easier. Taking them places is really getting to be fun. It helps that I have some amazing MoM friends to make it easier. We hang mostly with a couple sets of twins and another set of triplet boys. This weekend, we saw our other favorite set of triplets both Saturday and Sunday. And our twin friends on Sunday too! It helps that I love their mom's and the adults get to play while the kids play.

It's going to be a great summer!

A new pledge

So here it is the 16th of January and I am just updating this. I don't expect anyone still checks this cause well... I suck at updating. This has been the longest stretch ever. But life really did get away from me.

To make a long story short, the fall of 2010 was beyond nuts. A couple main things contributed to this. First, I started a new job. And I started at the worst possible time of the year. 4th quarter. When EVERYTHING is happening and changing in my industry. To say I was thrown into the deep end of the pool and told to swim... SWIM FAST is an understatement. Still... it is THE job I've always wanted and I hope that this is where I am to stay for the rest of my working days. I'm giving it my all and then some. On the work note.. my husbands job has been just as nuts and not only do they keep sending him on these little jaunts to Toronto for 2-3 days every other week, but they've started adding London every couple months for a good 7-10 crack. Hello single parent hood.

Next, we moved my mom down to live by us. It's been a blessing and a.. well.. I don't think curse is the right word. But.. a challenge. I now feel responsible for her happiness since she doesn't know anyone here. She's been a HUGE help to us and the biggest thing is that she now gets to see the boys a good 4-5 times a week. And let's face it, if it weren't for her, Jeff and I would probably never have a home cooked meal these days.

Last but not least, the boys. Da Boyz. Ah... my little miracles have been a challenge. I thing I trace it back to this stomach bug they caught in August. It completely destroyed their sleeping habits. That on top of a constant parade of sinus infections, ear infections, blah blah.. their sleep.. well.. it was shot to shit. And thus.. so was mine. The first two weeks at my new job, I went to work on 2-3 broken hours of sleep both nights. Not good for anyone, and I have to be ON. My job is high profile, high pressure. That pattern pretty much continued on until last week, I started putting my foot down and we went to sleep re-training boot camp. Things have gotten a bit better and I'm hopeful they will continue to improve.

I also think some of this directly relates to the fact that... well... they are 2. And they're professionals at it! Tantrums, toy stealing, pushing your brother down, jumping on brother, stalking brother for toy, looking at brother the wrong way.. OMG. Jeff and I agree on one thing: we actually feel more challenged by them now than when they were newborns. That is one bold statement!

Anyway.. if for nothing else, I have decided.. promised myself.. I will update this blog if only if it's 2 lines at least 4 times a week. Every day there is a new word, a new sentence and something that makes us laugh. Here are todays:

Alex: Alex was playing his electric guitar today. Daddy was pretending to head bang. He taught Alex to say ROCK N ROLL!!!! Hilarious.
Nate: Heard the above.. also yelling ROCK N ROLL!!
Nate: I always call Nate.. Na Nate. I don't know why.. but I do. I say it in almost a singing voice. Today... I called him that and he answered back with.. Na Nate! (insert his singing voice!)
Nate: Sitting eating dinner and Ni Hao Ki Lan was on Nick Jr. Part of one of the songs she sings is "we'll figure out (pause) what to do!" Nate: Figure out... what to do!" Hysterical!
Ben: Do you want to eat Ben? Ben.. BEN EAT!!!

Other milestones today:
Nate and Ben: They went to church for the first time! We sat in the cry room. They were well... kinda awful. We'll try again. Want to thank my lovely Heather for the text after church that I provided her with all the entertainment she needed during church watching me from the outside as I ran around the cry room after the crazy twins. I laughed when I saw that for sure!

Alex: while we were at church, Alex and his daddy went on a date. Home Depot. Alex held tools! They were real men! Then.. what do real men do? They go to McDonald's for a burger!

All in all great Sunday for the boys!

The leaves are changing

It happens every year and it's happening again. I feel like it was just yesterday! I love seeing the leaves change. Fall is my favorite time of year for sure. It's always so beautiful on these fall sunny days.


So let's see.. what has changed at our house lately? Well.. what hasn't?

I always say I am going to be better about keeping the blog, and things should calm down, but I really mean it this time. Or rather.. hoping things calm down after the boys second birthday anyway!

August was totally eaten up by a couple things. First, my mom moved to be near us. This was a huge deal and practically as much work for me as it was for her. I had to help her search for a place to live, deal with the negotiations, $$, the hook ups, the movers, and last but not least, I had to sit on a Greyhound bus for 14 hours to get up to my home town to help her pack the uhaul and move. I then had to drive that freakin semi bus over the Mackinac Bridge and into Detroit. that was fun. NOT. That was how I spend a lovely 4 day weekend from work. In the 95 degree heat.

Once that was over, I had an even bigger situation to deal with. My job. I started my job last summer. I've never really been happy since for a variety of reasons. First, the work. It was not what I signed up for. Then the commute. If you are going to commute like that, it better be to something you love. Yeah.. see the first comment I made. On top of that, my husband has been traveling non stop and I've been single parenting alot. Alot. It was too much. At first we thought i might just quit and be a stay at home mom. I would LOVE that. And while we could get by on one income, we would be doing just that... getting by. And we are SO not used to that. So we made the decision I would look for something closer to home. And I did. And I found it. To say that I was kissed by an angel in this situation is an understatement. I got so lucky with this opportunity, I couldn't even question it and I jumped on it. I started my new job this past Monday!

So.. on we go to the fall and we march towards the boys 2nd birthday. They are a true joy and the joy grows everyday. We are in the stage now where we are learning a new word every hour. That everything has a name. It's so exciting to see them learn and discover daily. And I am so happy my mom is here to enjoy it.

I am in the thick of planning the boys birthday party. This year we will have a Yo Gabba Gabba theme and are having it at a children's play gym. Should be so fun for all the kids. We can't wait!

I stop and think daily how lucky I am. I'm healthy (fat but otherwise healthy!), my husband, children and mom are healthy. We have a great house with a beautiful new kitchen being installed, and great, amazing jobs. I have to pinch myself!

Words

I really do have to be better about writing on this blog if for no other reason than to remember what my boys are doing every day. And every day it's something new.

My boys have been slow to talk. Well.. not slow so to speak but not fast. They started with words around a year with the typical momma dadda stuff. Progressed on in different ways and each has had their own set of words. My boys are clearly more physically developed than alot of kids. Especially for high order multiples who were almost 7 weeks early. They hit all their milestones on track or early. I cannot keep them still. They climb everything. Run everywhere. Are doing stairs like champs. So the words thing has been a little slow to come on.

Until now.

We are in the middle of the "explosion" I was told would probably happen sometime before their 2nd birthday. Some of the favorites are:
Ball
Car
Swing
Sock
Shoe
Slide
Cat
Truck
Dog
bye
hi
No
Done
Up
down
milk
What's that?
Where is it?
Nate is quite good at singing the ABC's with the Leap Frog table
They love the Eee III EEE II OO from Old MacDonald song
Itsy Spider
and I have taught them to do 1...2... THREEE!!!!



And all of a sudden, it's like they understand everything. They *know*! One particular really awesome thing happened the other night. I was yelling at our dog Bailey and Alex got up and went over and started petting her and saying "Bailey". We were shocked! He knew exactly who Bailey was! The boys love the dogs but we didn't really know they knew them apart. So we said Alex.. where is Kali? He immediately went over and pet Kali. We asked "where's Ben?" He went and bopped Ben on the head. Of course we asked.. "where's Nate"? Went right to Nate. Then we asked.. where's Alex? He marched over to our entertainment center, bent down, looked at his reflection in the glass and pointed at it. We were dying! Amazing this kid! He is so freakin smart he scares us sometimes!

Besides that, they now only want to drink out of certain sippy cups and will shake their heads no until I offer the correct one. Lord help me. They can put the car back up on top of our roller coaster out in the backyard with no help. They have a battery powered car now that they can steer and push the gas peddle all on their own. Seriously.. they are growing up before my eyes.

Which of course I don't want them to do. I want to freeze them where they are now. Maybe this is why I have an appointment with my RE to talk about an FET in two weeks?????????????

Thankful

Thankful.

It’s a nice word but it doesn’t quite adequately capture what I am to have my boys in my life. It’s nice.. but it’s not strong enough. Humbled.. overjoyed… I don’t know. All of those words maybe. Of course, I’ve pretty much felt this way since the moment I pee’d on the stick and found out I was pregnant. Especially after the ultrasound when I saw them and heard their heartbeats. And with each day that goes by, and I get to know them better, I feel this way all over again and x’s 1000.

I am still reeling for my friend on the loss of her son. I read her blog yesterday and it sent me into another crying fit. She talked about how she finally did laundry and came across the clothes she was wearing the last time she held him. And there was a drool stain on her shirt from him and how she couldn’t bare to wash it. I don’t blame her one bit.

I still can’t wrap my brain around what has happened. Every day I see her siggie pics on our chat board with her son still there (of course) and I still can’t process that he’s gone. Or maybe I just don’t want to and if I ignore it, it will go away. But then I read her blog again. Or I see her most recent Facebook status. And I know it’s real. It really happened.

My sons are exactly one month younger than he was. I look at them every day and think.. what if? What if that were me? Yes, I know my sons are healthy and at this time, there is nothing to lead me to believe something will happen to one of them. But it’s hard not to ask yourself those questions and relate. This isn’t just another faceless person I read about in the daily paper obituary or heard about on tv. This child had a name and a face. He had two beautiful sisters and loving parents. He had a monkey shirt and match box cars.

I’ve survived a lot of crap in my days. But.. I don’t know if I could survive that. So I’ll continue to think of and pray for this family that somewhere out there, there is peace for them.

Another loss

I have spoke often of my MoMfia. My group of multiple moms. Our group is about 150. 100 really active in the group I would say. Today, May 21st was supposed to be a day of celebration. We were going to be celebrating the 1 year anniversary of the creation of the chat board that brought us so close. The Bump is actually where it all started. On their multiples board. But this private board that spun off from there is where we all call home now.

We're family.

With 100+ women, we don't always get along, like each other, or agree. But one thing is for certain, when push comes to shove, we are family and we rally around each other. Today, was supposed to be a day of celebrating that family. Instead, we are a grief stricken family in mourning.

Yesterday, a member of our family lost her 20 month old son, JW. JW was born at 27 weeks due to loss of amniotic fluid, which severely compromised his lung development. He was on oxygen since birth, but otherwise, a very happy normal child. JW caught a cold and it progressed. He did not recover. We are all devastated. Devastated for the loss of this beautiful child. Devastated for his mother and father and two sisters.

And... my family is reminded of those we've lost before. Not that we don't think of them always, but on days like this, those memories wash over you like high tide slapping you in the face. JW is the 5th child lost in 15 months in this group of 100 women.

I've been trying to make some sense of this all day and I really can't. I know people say everything happens for a reason, but over the last couple years, I have come to think those words are horse shit. Really? There is a reason JW is no longer with us? There is a reason children die at the hand of child abusers and of cancer or other terrible diseases? No.. I cannot see a reason for that. The only conclusion I come up with is that sometimes life really sucks. It's horrible and tragic. And it's just not fair. How do you go on? I truly hope I never have to find out, because knowing and caring about the people who are forced to figure that out is almost more than I can take.

So for tonight, I will count my blessings. Hug my boys tighter, love them longer, look into their eyes one more time. And I will never complain when they wake up in the middle of the night, are sick with a cold, or have pooped through another outfit. At least I am lucky enough to have perspective. And to be able to hug them whenever I want.

Dear Blog

I am so sorry I neglect you! I just don’t know how to keep you fed and happy with all kinds of fun stories about my kids. You are a great idea in theory. It was the place to write my feelings about my infertility. Then my pregnancy and now.. my boys. But man.. you are low on the totem pole of priorities. Perhaps someday, we can have a better relationship. Till then..

Yes, once again, I’ve been neglectful. So much to do so little time. I am waiting for a lottery win so I can stay home with my boys! Let’s see.. what has been going on…

Well. .the boys had their 18 month appointment and they are tall and skinny again:
Benj: 24 pounds, 33 inches
Nate: 25 pounds 34 inches
Alex: 24 pounds 10 ounces, 34.5 inches

No wonder I can hardly keep pants on them! Good lord! I have been worried about that recently as they decided to go on an eating strike. For about a week, I literally watched them throw food on the floor for every meal except breakfast. So I was like.. what do I do? Keep throwing every kind of food I have in the kitchen at them until they find something to eat, or start feeding them pancakes and scrambled eggs for every meal!?!? They did pick back up this past weekend so who knows. Such is the life with 3 toddlers. It is not the first time we’ve had feeding issues and I have a feeling this will not be the last time.

My mom visited for a week and that was nice. They boys LOVE her and she is such a great grandma. Talking and feeding and hugging and playing and new toys and new clothes… what else could three little men ask for? We really wish we could convince granny judy to move down by us so that we could see her more often.

The boys really seemed to have a language explosion too. All of a sudden they’ve gone from their typical few words to mimicking everything we do and say. Lord help us. I just know my kid is going to be the first one on the playground calling some other kid a douche bag.

Me and Jeff have also been busy as heck. Jeff’s job is pretty out of control lately, but they’ve finally recognized it and are giving him a market adjustment in his salary. I am really happy for him… and the fact that my new kitchen is now on it’s way! But the London trip does seem like it is about to be a reality. Also consuming my time is the fact that our new nanny has not worked out. That’s a whole blog post in itself and I am sure any MoMfia members who are reading this blog are sick to death of listening to me bitch about it. So I’ll just say.. I had to do the search and interview process that I love so much twice in 2 months time. Gotta love it.

One other great and exciting thing is that I’ve recently been “found” but an amazing group of triplet mom’s. Yes, tis true that I am in a couple multiples groups already, but this one is triplet moms and the best part is, many of them practically live in my neighborhood. We all got together a couple nights ago and I am already loving my new found friends. In fact, do I have any friends anymore who do NOT have multiples? LOL

NOLA and 17 months!

There has been some fun lately! I went to New Orleans!!!

I've been a part of a public message/chat board for several years now dating back to my wedding planning days. Once I became pregnant with the boys, I started chatting and asking questions on a multiples chat board. Last spring, some strange things were happening a couple of the girls decided we needed more privacy. So they, weeded through the board and invited certain people to be a part of the private board. I am so happy I accepted! I really couldn't have imagined what this board would become to me. It's women from all over the country and not only do I get amazing advice from women who have been and are in my situation with multiples, but it's support, friendship, and camaraderie like you can't imagine. They understand. They don't judge. Really.. it's the best.

We joke that it's our own little "Fight Club' We now affectionately refer to ourselves as the MoMfia.

So.. The MoMfia had it's first ever national get together. What does stink for me is that there is really no one else on the board who is local and there are several areas of the country were many of the women live so they can see each other regularly. But this was for all of us. It was so exciting since I've "known" some of them for years. But still.. I was nervous arriving alone and meeting them for the first time!

But it was just like I thought it would be! When my cab dropped me off, I was met at the door with screams and open arms by two of my oldest and dearest friends from the group. And it felt like "home". There was no awkwardness at all! When I decided to go, one of my friends immediately said that I would be in her room. So I ended up with the NY/NJ girls! (and one hottie from PA). I had to laugh, I think I came home with a slight Jersey accent. LOL

We had the best time. 31 of us stayed in a big old victorian house just a block from the French Quarter. We ate in all the famous restaurants, went on a swamp tour (I held an alligator!), went on a haunted house tour, drank to many hurricanes, ate too many beingets, stayed out too late, danced too much, and stayed up waaaay to late talking like we were at a high school slumber party! I felt almost 21 again! Almost!

I had the best time and can't thank all the girls enough for their friendship and support. Can't wait till 2011!!

And those boys... who could forget!?!? They were 17 months on Saturday. wow... just wow. They are getting hair! I said to Jeff.. I can't call Alex a baldie anymore! He really has hair! LOL For their 17 month birthday, we celebrated by basically buying them a new wardrobe for summer and 3 new pairs of shoes each. These little monkeys are expensive! But they will be well dressed this summer! Also for their birthday today.. we all got to go to the DR. and get antibiotics and breathing treatments. We are all sick again. And this time, I am knock me out wanna die sick. I haven't been hit this hard for awhile. I even missed work today

But.. looking forward to Easter and grandma Judy's visit. We're having my family over for Easter Sunday dinner and I can't wait to host. The Easter gifts are all bought and the baskets are ready to be stuffed. Or.. overstuffed. I've gone a bit nuts. Pictures to come!

overwhelmed

So it's been a month again. BAD blogger! Well.. my life has sort of been in a tailspin the last month and boy time just slips sometimes. The boys were sick the pretty much the entire first two weeks of March. And instead of them all being sick at once, it went in a cycle. First Ben, then Nate, then Alex and repeat Nate and Alex. Oh.. and throw me and Jeff in there too. Translation? I didn't sleep more than a 2 hour stretch for almost 2 weeks. It was brutal. The highlight was Alex's trip to the ER with what I was sure was going to be pneumonia. He sounded AWFUL. Seriously awful. The rattle of his breathing was so scary. But after several hours in the ER and a couple breathing treatments later, we narrowly escaped admission and were sent home with our very own nebulizer. Nate was also the lucky recipient of these treatments beginning the next day.

I think the worst part is going to work and trying to be functional like this for an extended stretch. Not to mention my commute. And there has been just sooo many things going on. Jeff's been traveling or working late alot. I have felt like every minute of my days and nights have been consumed lately. The boys, work, Jeff, the house, the dogs.. oh.. and interviewing nannies, phone screens, reading add responses. That's what I've been doing in my spare time. I've found that even minor chores like paying the bills were slipping. To sum it up.. I'm overwhelmed a lot these days. But what could go? nothing. Really. Nothing.

The Chase....and 16 months!

That's what we call it now. The Chase. The Chase is on!

What I am talking about is what has become the new obsession in the house. They loooove to chase each other. In the last couple weeks, we've noticed that the level of interaction between the boys has risen to a whole new level. What started out as rolling over onto one another, a few smiles here and there, then progressed to stealing toys and heartbreaking screams when watching the brother now happily shake the toy that was just in my mouth or seeing my pacifier in the mouth of running away brother, has now turned into..... play!

OMG. it is the cutest thing I've ever seen. Jeff and I just sit and watch and go.. Omg!! look at that! OMG... look at them...OMG!!! how freakin cute is that!!! We are like little kids watching for the best fireworks on the 4th of July. LOL

They love to chase each other. When one is in a crib still and another is outside of it, they will hold toys and pull them away. They will stand on either sides of the crib so they can see each other through the bars and just sit there and... laugh at each other. Seriously.. there is nothing cuter in the world. THIS is sibling love. THIS is amazing. Tonight, if I didn't know they really aren't capable of such a thing yet, it was actually like Alex and Nate were playing hide n go seek. Nate was running from Alex and trying to get on the other side of the rocker and when he got there he peeked out and Alex saw him and run after him. Nate burst into hysterical laughter and Alex did too. Again.. I just stand back and watch and think I am the luckiest mom on earth.

Ben has had a rough weekend. He isn't feeling good. I think it's more teeth. He's had an off and on fever. We did all go to Kindermusic yesterday and I was really worried if we'd make it. Or he would. But.. he was the stinkin star of the show! He was happily the instructors example baby for the entire hour! Running around charming everyone. But.. still.. he's out of sorts. They all love Kindermusic though. Jeff and I just laugh.. it's a TOTAL workout for us. Up and down.. chasing boys.. bouncing, dancing, singing.. we come out sweating!

Other than that.. not much else to report. We had our first weekend with no company in 4 weeks, so it was nice to have some peace and family time. Jeff and I got a nice take out dinner on Saturday and had some wine. And now it's back to the grind tomorrow.. Monday. yukk!!

Happy happy... and just.. happy.

I feel like I just blogged a post on here yesterday. I sign on only to find out it's been two weeks! Where o where does my time go? So much for my new years resolution of keeping this up better! HA

The boys are awesome. We had our 15 month appt this past week. A bit late, but better late than never. I couldn't do it the week they turned 15 months or the week after due to the fact there was absolutely no possible way for me to have missed work. Work is... INSANE. And it will not let up. In fact, it's so crazy that the project that was supposed to be handled by solely me and my boss, is now acquired two more people and they are looking for a 5th. HA. So much for best laid plans on that one. So.. yeah. I'm waaay busy at work.

The boys did amazing at the appt. Of course, this time, I had help. I took our nanny with me. After going it alone to the 1 year appt, I swore I was never.doing.that.again. Not only was it a train wreck for me to try to undress.. talk to the Dr... dress.. get shots for three screaming boys, but they made us wait in the waiting room for 20 minutes, then 45, once we got in the room. hello people... are you NUTS??? After awhile, I gave up and let them tear the room apart. I had no remorse over it either! LOL

So the Stats:
Nathan: 24 pounds, 8 ounces. 32 and 3/4 inches. Just about 50th percentile in weight, 80th in height
Benj: 23 pounds 6 ounces. 32.5 inches. 20the percentile in weight, about 50-75 in height
Alex: 24 pounds 4 ounces. 33.5 inches. 40th percentile in weight and off the charts in height!

Dr. Diagnosis?

TALL AND SKINNY... LOL

Jeff thought for sure Nate was a "25 pound turkey" as he calls him. I didn't think so. And I'm actually suprised Alex weighs that much he is SOO skinny. Talk about chicken legs! Now if only I could say I was tall and skinny these days... humm...

Other than that, they're doing great. A bit of runny noses and LOTS of teething. I've gone to work on 2-3 hours of sleep a few times over the last couple weeks. oy. But judging by the fact I now have two boys with all 4 molars and another 2.. AND three boys with a canine poking through, it's easy to see why that it. TEETHING SUCKS!!! I got to work from home 3 days this past week due to weather on their Dr. appt and we are off tomorrow for Presidents day. To say I am thrilled to have had extra time with them is an understatement. I can't get enough of those cutie pies!

Last weekend was my birthday and what a hoot that was. My BFF came from Kalamazoo with her partner and together with them and two other couples that we have cause trouble with in the past, we all went out for dinner at one of our old time favorite restaurants and then out to martini's at another old fav. What a great freakin time! OMG. we were out till 1am and I haven't been that drunk in YEARS!! But it was sooo worth it!! Unfortunately, it made me basically non functional on my actual birthday, which just happened to be Super Bowl Sunday. But.. we all got up, my BFF and her partner stayed here.. got Dunkin Donuts, lounged around and played with the boys (who remained in their pj's that day!) and then got Chinese take out for the game. I was in bed early needless to say. wow.. But again.. it was a fabulous birthday surrounded by some of my most favorite people. Wonderful..

For Valentines weekend, we hosted a party. It as so great! I've met some really awesome women through one of my mom's of multiples groups. This one is local and we had a few other couples.. spouses and babies.. all over for dinner last night. There were babies and toddlers everywhere holy moly! I'm so glad we have to space to host our friends like this and are already planning for the next one. Especially since the kids were eye'ing up all of our play structures in the yard!

Last but not least.. what has me so happy today are a few things. First.. of course my family is amazing. How did I get choosen to be the mother of these boys? I am humbled daily that these are MY children. I can't stop staring at them. Second.. I have great husband. He'd never met most of the people we had over yesterday, but he welcomes them openly and makes sure he talks to everyone. He loves having people over and expanding our social connections. He ROCKS. And he's cute! LOL And of course, my friends. So glad to have some really great women in my life right now. I honestly think that is just another reason I was chosen for triplets. Through my MoM's groups, I've met some truly amazing women. Multi tasking queens. Real inspirations.

But what made the weekend even BETTER?? The two boys I've been asking for prayers for? Well people.. it's working! Baby J is being fed through a G tube only. That means he's getting food in his tummy for the first time in MONTHS. And he's not vomiting! He really is doing well and his quality of life improves daily. This is HUGE for him and his family as when he thrives.. everyone in his house thrives!!

And Baby G.... He was released from the hospital today after 3 weeks of too much scariness without TPN (TPN = IV feeds)!!!!! This really is a miracle. He his now taking food into his intestines like a champ. He still needs to start really gaining weight, but this is THE step in the right direction that he needed to take. Not only is this amazing for him, but thank goodness he and his mother can go back home to be with his brothers and sisters.. and 4 days before his 1st birthday. I can't even type this without some major tears of joy falling. That said, continued prayers are needed for his continued stability and weight gain. In the case of both boys, I think it's equally important to pray for the wisdom and guidance of their Dr's. That they are led to the best solutions for these boys.

And.. with that.. both of their mothers are planning to be in New Orleans for our MoM gathering and I can't wait to hug both of them!!!

Because I needed something else to do...

Yes.. I've added something else to my weekly routine: I joined a gym.

Ugh.. I used to be in good shape. Used. Then infertility, a bunch of surgeries, a triplet pregnancy, trying to raise the triplets. I look like shit. I don't even recognize myself sometimes. I hate it. I've been toying with it for awhile now and this weekend, I took the plunge and did it. I decided not to join the fancy gym. It wasn't to expensive, but for what I want to do right now, the little gym was enough and it's waaay cheap! I just want to go, get on the eliptical or the treadmill and zone out to my Ipod or a magazine. I don't want to be bothered. My goal is 3 times a week for 45 minutes on the machine. I'm going to start slow. But I am so happy I did it!

And what was the incentive you ask? Everyone has one for joining a gym right? I have three. As I said above, I need to look like me again for my own good. 2nd, I have three boys and I want to be able to run with them, ride bikes with them, whitewater raft with them, go on rides at Disney with them. I want to do everything with them and not be ashamed to do it. And 3rd.. I'm going on a trip! YAHOO!!!!

My big excitement right now is that I am going to New Orleans in March! I am leaving the husband and the boys for the first time. Hell.. I am leaving the STATE OF MICHIGAN for the first time sine May of 2008 (how pathetic is that.. but I've been a bit busy). Anyway.. I am going to a get together for a Mom's of Multiples group I am part of. These girls are just the best. I've known some for quite awhile as they were part of my infertility chat board and due to the fertility treatments, some of us are mom's of multiples now. And other's, I've got to know in the past 7 months since this group started. I am so attached to them, I don't know what I would do without their daily support and understanding of raising our babies. There are 32 of us at last count spending a long weekend in the Big Easy. I've never been and I could NOT be more excited!

And what is going on with the boys this week? hum.. they are of course, still the BEST.

Benj is running like a mad man. He loves to make his mean face (puker lips, curl nose, and snarl!). He's so funny and he always laughs after. He's been saying "cat" (odd.. we have dogs!), "sad" (not sure why?) "cup" (probably cause Alex won't let him play with his cups!). He is still such a mama's boy. He literally melts into me when I pick him up. He has 3 molars now for a total of 11 teeth and the canines are peeking through!

Nate Nate is still my sweet angel babe. He's been having some sleep issues lately. Ben went through this back in November. I think it's the teeth. grr. But it has resulted in me being at work on like 3 hours of sleep 4 times in the last week! He has 2 molars and we think the others are going to pop any second. He has BIG news this week.. he's been saying A, B, C. non stop! Just the first three letters.. he doesn't go further yet. But all the time.. A.. B.. C.. so stinkin cute

Alex.. ahhh.. the X man. Everything this week is Yeah. Alex.. were you bad today? "Yeah". Alex... did you bite your brother? "yeah" to funny. His newest obsession is getting on the couch and running around it. His brothers are now getting into it too. yippee.. NOT. So seriously.. every night, we have "couch time" where we let them sit and crawl all over the couch (we have a big sectional so it's got a lot of room for all)

Last but not least... Mom and dad.. aside from the gym news and some sleepless nights, Mom (me) finished her hell week at work. My client was on site all week. It was tough on me.. and the boys. I did not get home before 7 every night. And later on the nights we had to take them out to dinner. I am still going to be swamped, but at least I can resume my prior schedule: work.. go home be mom.. turn computer on when babes are in bed. ugh... And dad.. finished the play room. Jeff did an AMAZING job on our spare room turning into triplet wonderland. Now, I just have to get the art for the walls and it can be photographed. Seriously.. our boys now have two huge areas.. one on each floor of our house to run and be wild! yeah!

I want to end my post by still requesting prayers for baby G. As humans.. we all have it in us to feel for a sick child. But this child is so adorable, (as is his twin brother) and his mom is just so nice and has so much on her plate: Baby G, his twin brother, and two other children at home and is spending countless weeks in a hospital far away from her other children and husband. And baby G gave us all two very big scares this week and I know all the prayers are helping him and his mother keep strong!!!

Playing Ketchup

Where or where does my time go? Every time I vow to take better care of this blog, I blow it. I just can't find the time. And right now, I am just got back from running an errand (more milk) and am scarfing down some food before the boys wake up from there nap. I have 15 mintues max. GO.

The holidays were nuts. The boys were all sicker than sick the week before Christmas. I had one of my "4 nighters" as I know refer to them. It seems that whenever all thee of my boys get sick, I do not sleep for 4 straight nights. That is about as long as it takes them to go from almost sick.. to sicker than sick.. to less sick... to.. just got cough up this last bit of snot... to finally they are so exhausted that they will sleep. 4 nights. It's always 4 nights. I do ok up through night 3. Night 4. I hit the wall and practically fall apart. I had to work during two of those 4 nights. That was fun. And the last one.. we had to get up to leave for an 8 hour drive to my mom's for Christmas. I let Jeff sleep and took the big offender or that night, Nathan, down to the living room to cry it out with me on the couch. Then left him there (in a pnp) and had to go fish Alex out. The only sleep I got that night was 90 minutes in the rocker with Alex on me.

Then there was the trip home. What. a. fucking. nightmare. My usually good travelers were so sick. They screamed about 5 of the 8 hours. And Alex was so upset at one point, he threw up all over himself, the car seat, the car.. we had to pull over on the highway so I could clean him up. We were both crying by that time. If it had been anything other than Christmas, we would have turned around.

Then.. once at my mom's, the weather was so bad that none of my family living more than 30 minutes away even could come home. It was SO bad.

We had a rather uneventful trip back thank god. We were happy to wash Christmas off of us this year.

Since Christmas, one word has taken over for me and Jeff: w.o.r.k. It's been really awful. Since New Years, I've worked an average of 55 hours a week. Weekends, evenings. And I'll be there a good 60 hours this week. And Jeff.. ugh. He's been traveling almost every week which leads me to single parenting at night. And.. on the weekends, he's been slaving away creating a play room paradise for the boys. But again.. as a result.. more single parenting. And there's now a 90% possibility he will be taking on a new project... in London. That will require him to be gone for a week to 2 weeks at a time probably 5 times this year. And that could start in the next week. But what do you say? Is his line of work.. you don't say no. There are thousands of unemployed automotive engineers. But they want him. They're promoting him. His job is on fire. SO.. he'll go and I'll shut up and try to juggle it somehow.

oh! the boys.. omg.. every day they amaze me. They are all walking and have been for gee... over a month now. I can't believe it! They are 15 months now. The sweetest, cutest things ever. They are still with our nanny, although.. she'll be leaving us in a few months when her semester is over at school so we have to figure out what we'll do AGAIN for childcare. We also just started Kindermusic classes and are have been doing lots of play dates and have a play date every weekend for the next few weeks. We/I am looking forward to hosting a group of my mom's of multiples at our house for a Valentine party in a few weeks. We have a great group of us that have become really great friends so I can't wait! It is sooo nice to have a group of friends who are in the exact same situation you are and understands the demands of raising multiples, working.. all of it. They don't pass judgement or expect the unrealistic from me either.

Last but not least.. as I hear a boy talking upstairs.. Please pray for baby G again. I cannot stress to you enough how badly this little man needs every prayer he can get. Besides my own children, I worry for him like I am his mother. I pray for him night and day. He and his family have had an awful time lately and things are very critical. Please.. light a candle, say a prayer. Something.

The 1st trip to Santa is in the bag!

Wow.. that was an event.

Jeff and I both have vacation days to burn by the end of the year so we decided to take yesterday off to spend as a family and go visit Santa for the first time. We figured better a Friday than a Saturday at the crazy mall.

We got up and started our routine as normal but I had to leave for the mall around8:30ish so that I could go get our Santa "fast pass". If you've ever been to Disney World, then you know what I am talking about. You go... put your name in, and get your Santa time and come back when it's your scheduled time. This is a great system as it avoids people having to stand in line for hours with screaming children.

The only flaw in this system is that they won't let you actually just make a reservation for a particular time. In our case, I needed a time after lunch, but before the afternoon nap. So about 1:00. My friend had been to the mall the previous Friday and when she got there at 10:00 am, they were already handing out times at 1:30! So I was sure I needed to be there by 9ish. And I got there at 9ish. I was not the only one with that plan! There were other parents there doing the same thing!

What was crazy about it, it was actually SLOW!!! I ended up having to wait for an hour and 40 mintues to get a time after 1:00!! So.. in that time, I bonded with the other parents, got a Starbucks and browsed Janie and Jack. Something I should never be allowed to do as it inevitably ends with me dropping to much money on clothes for the boys! Sadly, they know me there and made me promise to bring the boys back later that day so they could see the in their Christmas clothes. Which.. I had to shamefully admit.. were NOT Janie and Jack!

Anyway.. we were on time for our 1:14 Santa appointment. We got right in! Had to wait for one family ahead of us. So I will give snaps to Sommerset and their well oiled Santa machine! This mall really is beautfull at Christmas. (pictures to follow) SO how did it go? Well.. it went like yeah... you can see how it went!

But.. it's a right of passage right?

Thanksgivings..

Well, we’ve made it through one holiday so far this year! It was kinda rough but we’re all alive. We went to Jeff’s mom’s for Thanksgiving. There were 19 adults and 11 children. It was chaos. Chaos on top of an un-baby proofed house and teething boys makes for well.. an exhausting 3 days. But I am glad Jeff had a nice time and got to see a lot of his family. That’s what counts right?

The boys are up to so much lately. They really are one laugh after another. They love to clap at everything. They wave at everything. They pucker up to kiss everything. Alex was especially fond of his cousin Addison’s doll this past weekend. It was hysterical! They love to throw balls. Everything is a “Bah”. Ben is really shaping up to be quite the lefty! Jeff of course, is thrilled by this prospect and is already looking for major league baseball scouts to get their opinions! LOL And their new favorite game is peek a boo! They love to cover their eyes and wait for one of us to yell.. PEEK A BOO!!! Sometimes they will even put blankets over their heads and pull them off. Alex.. well he loves to put everything on his head. Blankets, burp cloths, pants.. you name it!

Alex is not only just walking.. he is running. Like a mad man. Nate and Ben are so funny. They get up.. stand up. Take a couple steps. But then realize if they are going to catch him, they must still crawl. They are walking but not with the confidence that Alex has. But they are getting there so fast. It really amazes me. To think… at this time last year, Ben still didn’t weigh 5 pounds! Alex and Nate? They were about 6!!! To say they have come a long way in these 13 months is understatement! My preemies are not preemies anymore. They are 13 month old toddlers with no delays! It’s impossible for me to look at them and not get choked up!

Overall, things are busy. Time flies. This week has been no exception. Half of my Christmas shopping is done, the tree is up, the Christmas card is ordered. What next? More shopping this weekend and a party with the high order multiples group! This group is for families with triplets, quads, and quints. It really makes us feel “normal’. They understand the daily chaos for sure! Our group has adopted another high order multiple family in need, so the kids will be giving gifts to the children of the family in need.

I am so thankful that we are able to do this and to participate in three other exchanges like this. We’ve had an expensive year and precarious year with our job status uncertainty for sure, but we hope it’s behind us. Because we feel so fortunate, it’s very important for us to give back to those who are in need or just had a really shitty year. Health and happiness is fleeting. Who knows when I or someone I love may be on the other side of things. So for this year.. we share the wealth.

It is also at this time of year when I think about those still struggling to conceive the most. I had two really awful holiday seasons in 2006 and 2007. In December of 2006, my first pregnancy was diagnosed ectopic when my fallopian tube burst on Dec. 18th. I had surgery immediately that morning. I ended up back in the ER with my stitches hitting a nerve on Christmas Eve. I remember sitting on my living room couch in front of the Christmas tree a couple days after Christmas that year and Jeff saying to me… Don’t worry sweetie.. by this time next year, things will be much different for us. And he was right.

They were much worse.

After losing my other fallopian tube and my second pregnancy in September, we found out our first IVF was a chemical pregnancy on December 14th of 2007. I’d had it. I was a total mental, emotional basket case. I swore that was the last Christmas I was spending surrounded by and buying presents for nieces and nephews and children of our friends. Jeff and I both agreed, if we weren’t at least pregnant or knee deep in an adoption by Christmas 2008, we’d be spending our Christmas drowning in Mai Tai’s in Hawaii from now on.

I thank god everyday for the gifts I’ve been given in these boys. I just wanted to be a parent to A child. Any child. I didn’t care where he or she came from. Just one little child was all I wanted. So to all of you out there still struggling, my thoughts are with you now at this most difficult time of year. I hope that this is your last holiday season that you have to feel like this.