Random Updates...

Tonight is a big night. We finally evicted little Rachel from our bedroom. It was time. She's been sleeping all night consistently for quite some time now. We moved the girls' dresser out of their room and moved Rachel's crib back in. It's a tight fit, but with the dresser out of the room we don't have to put one of the cribs near the window. I know it's just the first night, but I am excited to have our bedroom back. If Rachel's little noises wake Sophia and Morgan, then I'll be buying a sound machine. With her out of our bedroom, I can take bubble baths at night again! Yay!

Our house projects have been delayed. We've been so busy on the weekends lately that I haven't had a chance to start painting the kitchen yet. We want to wait until the room is painted before we get the new floor and the new stove range top. We're still going to do it. I'm hoping that I can start painting this week.

The girls have been taking 2 1/2-3 hour naps lately. It's been pure bliss! I was the mama who was seriously sleep deprived and then to top that off, the girls were not good nappers! I think I put in my time. haha... Now they are really good night sleepers and nappers! So much so that Bob and I now take turns as to who gets up early with the girls. I'm glad I can let him get some extra sleep now too.

This past week was crazy busy. It's amazing how one weekend away set me so far back with laundry and just the general keep up I do with this house. Also, we've scaled back our helpers to only 2 per week. I used to have someone coming for about 2 hours per day every day of the week except Tuesday. As much as I appreciated it and truly needed it during the girls' first year, I was ready to end it. Plus, the girls have gotten so big that they were getting hard to lift. I think we've found the perfect balance now. I have a helper for about 2 hours on Mondays and Thursdays now and I really like it this way. It gives us more freedom for outings and play dates. I miss the ladies that aren't coming anymore, but they love the girls so much so they'll be visiting soon. Anyway, my point was that it is harder to keep the house anywhere near clean without the extra help. I'm doing the best I can though. I just need to get organized! I have stuff literally everywhere and it's driving me nuts!

So with all that said, you all might think I am crazy. I'm going back to school in the Fall. Before I got pregnant I was working toward my associates degree in liberal studies. I'm over halfway there and I refuse to give up now. Long story.... but I didn't go to college when I was younger. I was too busy being an idiot. LOL... I'm not sure when or if I will be going back to work. My job is the girls now. I worked for 8 years in the insurance industry. Part of that time was as a customer service rep and part of that time was as an insurance agent. I don't want to go back to that. If I go back to work someday....and I probably will when the girls are older... I want to do something I will enjoy or um...at least not hate. I've been thinking about it a lot lately. I'm interested in working either in an infertility clinic or becoming an ultrasound tech. Not sure yet. My first step is to just finish the liberal studies degree I started and go from there. It's going to take quite some time since I can only take 1-2 classes per semester. I have re-applied to the local community college that I went to before, but I can't register until the May 3rd. At least I get to register one day before it opens up to the public. I'm hoping I can get my class online and not have to go to the campus. If I have to go to the campus, I'll just go one night per week. So yay me! I'll get to feel like I'm doing something other than just diapers all day!

Oh Sophia's therapy..... I don't remember if I posted about this before so here it is...either way. She is doing so well that she is only going to be monitored once a month until she is running. lol... Erin wants to make sure that she walks without her toes pointing inward so she is going to keep an eye on us until Sophia is zipping around all over. She took 3 steps last week and will now even take one step all on her own without us prompting her. She is also sitting up very well while playing with her toys. I correct her when she is in the "W" position so she is doing it less and less. I keep working with her every day. She's doing so well. I also work with Morgan and Rachel too. I always thought that babies just learn these skills on their own. The girls are doing so much better now that we are going through these exercises.

Well, that's all I can think of at the moment. Time to get some sleep. I wonder how Rachel will do when she wakes up and realizes Mommy isn't right next to her crib. Yikes!

Mama won a makeover!

A couple of months ago, my mothers of multiples group received the event information for the NCA Spring Convention. The theme was "Weekend in Paris." One of the events was a makeover for one lucky "MoM." To enter to win the makeover, you were to send a photo of yourself and include why you need a makeover. My good friends Claudine and Jennifer decided that I just had to win this makeover! At first I was reluctant, but then they talked me into it!

They quickly got to work on writing something unique about me so that my entry would stand out. Here is what they came up with. They wrote the story and then had me write the "about the mom" section.

If you give a MoM a makeover, she's going to need her friends to come to convention to see how fabulous she'll look.

So she'll go to get her phone, which is buried in her diaper bag. When she sees her diaper bag, it will remind her that she needs more diapers.

So she goes to her bedroom to look for her keys. When she's in her bedroom, she'll see the laundry on her bed and she'll remember that she's been wearing the same shirt for 3 days and needs to take a shower.

As she walks past the bathroom, she notices that there is no toilet paper on the roll and heads to the garage.

On her way to the garage she goes through the laundry room and she sees a pile of clothes and starts the washer. She tosses in her famous blue t-shirt which has been used as a tissue, hand towel, and burp cloth. Then she notices that the dogs need food and water so she feeds them.

When she feeds the dogs, she realizes that she's a little hungry too, so she goes into the kitchen to grab a snack. She sees the dishes in the sink and decides to wash those first.

When she's standing at the sink, she sees her reflection in the window and thinks, "boy, do I need a makeover!"

But if you give a MoM a makeover, she's going to need all her friends to come to convention to see how fabulous she'll look!

About the "MoM"

I'm Barbara, a fellow survivor of the first year as a mother to triplet girls. They just turned one on February 3rd and I may have made it, but it wasn't without damage. My hair lost its cut and hides in a pony tail, my fashion sense went out the door, and make up is only something I see other people wear. You can find me in the same jeans, yoga pants, and t-shirts day after day. I haven't been shopping for clothes since my last visit to Motherhood Maternity. I wouldn't know where to begin so I don't bother. Shortly after my girls were born, I searched my closet high and low for something that would fit my new post-triplets body. What I found is a blue t-shirt that I've apparently been wearing ever since. I didn't notice it until I started looking for "before" pictures to submit. Picture after picture, I see nothing but this shirt. I even wore it on an overnight get-away with my husband when the girls were 6 months old. I'd love for him to see me as the woman that he married and not just the tired mother of his triplets!

Last fall, I went to my first convention and I loved it! What a great way to celebrate the uniqueness that being a mother of multiples is. I'd love to be able to show off my new look to all of my MoM friends who have been so supportive to me throughout our first year. Without them, I wouldn't have made it. The story you just read was written as a testament to my life today. While it is hectic at times, I wouldn’t want it any different. I may not have my post-babies look back yet, but at least I have my sense of humor.

I can't think of anything that would be more fun than a makeover at convention. I'll even trade you my blue t-shirt for it!

They put together a book with the above text. Each page of the book had a picture of me wearing my blue t-shirt. I seriously lived in that shirt! Here is one of the pictures....

I posted this about 6 weeks ago here and said it was taken for a reason. Jennifer came over one day and took a bunch of pictures with me showing my busy life with the girls. lol....

I found out a couple of weeks before the convention that I won the makeover. I was so honored that they selected me. I had to keep it a secret though.

It was announced during the convention Saturday luncheon that I won. They read my story and showed all the pictures of me.......then CONFISCATED MY BLUE T-SHIRT......and then whisked me away to get my hair and make up done! (They really did keep the blue t-shirt too!)

Here is the before pic.......

Here is a pic of me getting my hair done in the hotel suite. (We had the curtains closed because the sun was REALLY bright that day.) That is the first time I've ever sat on a table to get my hair done though...hahahaha!

While I was getting my hair done, they were getting me nice and toasted up with Cosmopolitans. YUMMY! But because of that.... I was too focused on my drinks to take more pics! lol.....

The makeover was complete with a new outfit from Chicos. I got the blouse that is pictured and a nice pair of tailored black capri pants. I even wore some cute heels! They had me come out to the stage before the evening's event started. (My friends took pics of the big reveal, but I don't have those to post yet so these will have to do.)

Here I am with Christy after my big reveal. (She is on the NCA board and planned the convention...and selected me!) It was so wonderful to meet her!

Here I am with Claudine in my hotel room before we started partying it up. (And nope, no pictures of that. Us MoMs have a pact. What happens at convention, STAYS at convention. HAHA!)

It was such a wonderful weekend. I feel so blessed that having triplets has brought me to so many wonderful new friends. When I joined my multiples club 9 months ago, I didn't fully anticipate the close friendships I would be so blessed to have. I'm so proud to be a part of such a wonderful group of women!

Mmm.....Toes

Rachel has discovered a new trick.......eating her toes.

How was your morning?

I was out of town all weekend.........woo hoo for a girls weekend away to the mothers of multiples Spring convention with all my friends...more on that later......Anyway...

I came home to a messy house and a fire extinguisher sitting on the kitchen counter. LOL... So not complaining about the messy house though. It was Bob's first weekend caring for the girls all by himself, so I'm really proud of him. I know how it is when you don't have help and a clean house is NOT top priority.

The fire extinguisher... well...lol... That was because he did try to clean the oven using the self cleaning option. Apparently, it started smelling like smoke because it was flaming on the inside. No biggie. He stopped it and the flames went out fine. The oven is only half clean, but our home is still intact! Whew....

I'm tired from this past weekend. A lot of fun was had. A LOT!

Today was Bob's day to sleep in. (We are taking turns getting up at 7am with the girls.) I woke up to 2 out of 3 smelly poop diapers. No biggie. Then Morgan starts throwing herself all over the floor because she wanted her milk right that second. Well, I was still changing Rachel. Morgan had to wait another minute.

Then I remembered that the power cord to my new Macbook laptop is um... shredded. It was my fault too. It gets caught on our recliner chair and I pulled on it and it ruined the cord. I looked up the price of the new cord.... $79 plus tax!

Bob got up at 8am and fed the girls breakfast while I called tech support because I was having some technical difficulties re-registering for school after taking the last um.... Whoa... 4 semesters off. Wow.. 4 semesters already. I was registered for full time classes in the Fall of 08, but I had to drop my classes when I realized my pregnancy was going to be a rough one. I'm excited to go back, but still wondering how I will do it. I am not giving up though!

Moving on...

Bob left for work and I started getting the girls ready to go to the Apple store at the mall to replace my power cord.

I unpacked a few things out of my suitcase and noticed I was missing 3 or 4 shirts including my Ralph Lauren sweater. (My one splurge for myself.) My heart sank when I realized I left them in the closet of my hotel room. I called the hotel and the head of housekeeping is out today so they will have her call me back tomorrow. UGHHHHH... I really hope that they have my clothes and will return them to me and that no one took them. I really do not have many shirts that fit me right now. Plus, I love(d) that sweater so much!

45 minutes later, we are all dressed and ready to go. I grabbed Sophia and opened the door that goes out to our garage. I usually prop that door open while I'm loading the girls one by one into the van. Well the doorknob just fell out of the door. My first reaction was.... WHO THE SHMECKLES WAS TAMPERING WITH OUR DOOR.... Then my rational side checked the door that goes to our backyard and it was still locked and secured. Nothing was missing from our garage..... So yeah...no one was tampering with it. It is just an old doorknob and probably came loose. I don't usually grab the door there and neither does Bob so I'm not surprised we didn't know it was loose.

I called Bob to tell him about it and to confirm that it was irrational for me to think that someone is tampering with our house... lol... Yes, he agrees it is just OLD. We'll replace it now.

I got the girls loaded in the van and we headed to the mall.

I went to the Apple store first because I really HAD to get that power cord first in case we had to leave in the hurry for meltdowns. The mall wasn't crowded at all. It was far from it.

I walked into the Apple store and it was just like a super busy weekend in there. There were at least 15 people working there, and they all pretended that me and my three one year olds in their giant bus of a stroller didn't exist. I waited patiently in line at the check in desk for what seemed like forever. When the girls started melting down because they don't like me to stop the stroller.... I finally got some help. LOL... I kind of thought it was funny that as soon as the girls all start crying or whining at the same time, 3 people came over to ask me what I needed. HAHA... They couldn't get me the power cord fast enough! I didn't care. I just wanted to buy the darn thing and get out of there! UGH... $85 later......... What a rip off.

It was now after 11am and I didn't feel like feeding the girls lunch at the mall. Too many people were pointing at us and saying "OMG TRIPLETS" every time we walked by. I decided to stop at Sonic on our way home for grilled cheese for the girls.

By the time we got home, it was 10 minutes past lunch time. Rachel is screaming her cute little head off. I got them all in their high chairs and started passing out the grilled cheese. Sophia and Morgan happily ate theirs up. Rachel (who will eat the grilled cheese 9 times out of 10) decided that she was not having any part of it today. She tossed hers on the floor and started throwing a huge tantrum in her chair. This was the first time she has really done a tantrum in her high chair. I ignored her because I'm trying to get her to stop eating baby food. When Sophia and Morgan were done, I offered more grilled cheese to Rachel. Of course she threw it on the floor and started crying harder. I always do yogurt and fruit with lunch too. So I grabbed the bowl and tried to give Rachel a bite. She pushed the spoon away from her face and stuck her hand in the bowl and dumped it all over herself and her tray!

GRRRRRRR....... I was so frustrated. I had to clean her up and of course it upset Morgan and Sophia that they were getting fed....

I finally got Rachel to eat some of the fruit and yogurt, but UGH... Will that child ever eat something other than mush on a spoon?

All I can say is thank God that nap time is so soon after lunch.

I'm really hoping we have a better afternoon!

Oh no she didn't.....

Oh yes she did!

The girls have a little activity table that is about a foot off of the ground. Today, Morgan found a new way to use it. I watched her for about ten minutes while she figured out how to get where she wanted to be. Like any mother, hahahaha... instead of trying to get her to stop climbing, I just whipped out my camera!

Here she is in action!

New rule......

Never leave the room if that little activity table is in their play area.

Watch out world. We have a climber!

Jamie Oliver doesn't have triplets!

You would think feeding the girls would be a simple task.

Yeah. I wish!

They can be such little stinkers when it comes to what they will eat. I am so tired of supplementing their meals with baby food. At 14 months old, I feel like we should be done with those little jars. The truth is, we are far from it. Well, at least Rachel is.

Bob is in charge of their breakfast. He usually feeds them oatmeal mixed with fruit. The fruit is usually baby food. We're working on just putting fruit in the food processor so they will still have a fruit serving with breakfast and something to sweeten their oatmeal.

For lunch, I've been doing whole milk yogurt mixed with banana and strawberry. I'll make them toast, french toast sticks, or grilled cheese to go with it. They'll snack on Cheerios or Kix while they wait for me to prepare their food.

Snacks.... we do dried fruit, goldfish crackers, cheese, puffs, cheerios.. whole grain organic animal crackers... whatever.

Dinner... Well, sometimes its scrambled eggs, ravioli, pasta, grilled cheese, meatloaf, meatballs, chicken..... I always give them a grain and veggies to go with it.

The problem is getting them to all eat the same thing. Rachel is usually the only one who refuses certain foods. If she doesn't like what I put in front of her, it gets thrown on the floor faster than you would ever think possible. I've noticed lately that she is only picking up crunchy foods. She will touch whatever food I put in front of her. If it's soft, she tosses it aside. If it's crunchy, it makes the short trip into her mouth.

At least I thought that was what she was doing.

I'm tired today........okay, also was feeling lazy. I didn't feel like making anything for lunch. So I loaded the girls up in the van and headed to Sonic. I had a plan to conduct a food experiment! (And yeah, I realized making them lunch would have been easier than loading and unloading them in and out of the van.)

At Sonic, I ordered a reliable grilled cheese sandwich. But instead of ordering two to share, this time I also got them a hamburger, some popcorn chicken, and some french fries too.

Jamie Oliver would not approve, but he doesn't have triplets. He can bite me! I don't give them fast food more than MAYBE once a week......and that is ONLY a grilled cheese sandwich and nothing more. I'd like to see him try to satisfy 3 one year olds! This was simply for testing purposes. LOL!

Anyway...So we got home and I put everything on a plate. It looked like a total fast food binge. My plan was to give them little pieces of each type of food to see what they would eat. Whatever they would eat, I could make a healthy version of at home to give them at another time. I've messed up my kitchen and wasted food cooking for them in the past, so I thought my plan was genius!

Yeah not so much....

They loved the grilled cheese. We already knew that since I tend to get them a Sonic grilled cheese at least one time per week when I really NEED a coke and am going there anyway! Oh and even Rachel, who has been on somewhat of a food strike lately, ate the grilled cheese....even though it's not crunchy! Totally ruined my theory. haha....

The hamburger...... They all tried it. MUCH to my surprise, Rachel loved it and ate it up. Sophia and Morgan chewed it and spit it out immediately.

The chicken... I thought Rachel would eat it since it's "crunchy," but she wouldn't even put it in her mouth. Morgan and Sophia tossed it on the floor too. I think its because by that time, they just weren't hungry anymore.

I gave them each 3 french fries. Sophia spit them out. Morgan was testing gravity and threw them all over the kitchen. Rachel.... ate em up and loved em!

I know it sounds like I fed them nothing but crap at lunch. Between the three of them, they shared one grilled cheese sandwich, a few fries, and a couple bites of hamburger that was spit out. I also gave them banana and strawberry to round it out!

I did this experiment mostly for Rachel. She has been so picky lately. One day she'll eat something and then the next she'll toss it aside! I was happy that she was eating almost everything I put in front of her, but not happy it was fast food. lol.... But at least it gives me some ideas of what she'll eat.

Oh and the whole....feed them what you eat thing... does NOT work in this house. If it's not baby food, I am not allowed to put anything else on the spoon. They spit it out and act like I'm trying to kill them. Foods other than baby food must be finger foods. See my dilemma!

Although....I am starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel. We are getting there!

I've been so busy.....

I don't know where the last week went. It's just.....gone.

I spent so much time sorting through clothes and tagging clothes and preparing for my moms club clothing and equipment sale that was this past weekend. I didn't realize so much work goes into these sales. I volunteered to help all day long too. As exhausting as it was, I did have a good time. I always enjoy being around my friends from my club. I wish I had made a little more money from the sale, but it's not a big deal. I really didn't have much to sell anyway since I had either given things away or sold them previously.

So that's what took up my time last week.

A lot has happened in the last week too.

Morgan took her first steps. She's not walking yet, but she is taking 1-3 steps at a time. Not often, but she's doing it! She's also starting to stand on her own without pulling up on to anything. She'll just get herself on her feet and then she'll slowly stand up! She does it so carefully too. It's so cute! We're so proud of her!

Rachel finally caught up and started to pull herself to standing. The whole "walking on her knees" thing has caused delays in other areas! She's improving though.

Sophia is sitting up in the proper position to play without me having to put her in that position. Her therapy is really going well. I've been working with her at home as much as possible. Erin, her therapist, taught me how to help the girls with learning to walk. I've been working with all three of them!

I'm so proud of my girls!

This week is also a busy one and I have some big plans for this weekend!

More later........ I will try not to let another week go by without an update!