The Cover???!!!

Gearing up for a Mother's day issue, a local magazine asked for some Moms of Multiples to take photos of their kids. Needless to say I was shocked to go to the website and see we made the cover of the Tennessee Women's Journal April/May 2o11 issue!

On page 17 there was a blurb about us. You can either click on the photo to see it larger, or click HERE to download the pages and read page 17.

Reminds me of a multiples article three years ago when we lived in Northwest Arkansas. In Peekaboo magazine they asked us some funny stories to share. The boys had this photoshoot for that article - still one of my favorites!

Fun memories :)

The Squeaky Wheel

I try not to be negative on my blog, but then I also strive to be real. If years down the road my kids happen to be reading my blog {will there even be blogs then?}, I don't want them to feel bad about what I write.

As I mulled this over in my head I realized that if/when my kids would read what I am about to write, I don't think this would matter to them.

Yesterday was one of those days. It started off fine. The boys had a dentist appointment and I thought to schedule it a little later in the morning so we didn't have to rush out of the house.

{side note - setting up appointments first thing in the morning are great! ONLY for things the kids are not upset about. Try not doing this for shots, dentist, etc.}

I have not taken the boys to the dentist since Summer of 2009 in Arkansas. It was a shared decision that we hold off until they were older because they were pretty traumatized at 3 years of age.

As soon as I mentioned the dentist, Quinton started his whining. Due to his newfound hate for anything strong tasting, minty, or strong smelling - he already started to whine about how bad it was going to taste.

You can't reason with a 4 year old. I still have not learned this, probably because I am stubborn. I can talk things through with him until I am blue in the face but if he doesn't want to do it, he doesn't want to do it.

{side note - I do not let this dictate our world and what we do. Just some things end up to be more difficult.}

We got to the dentist while Quinton started in again about the taste. We walked in, signed in, saw the fish tank, read books... then we were called to back.

We stepped in and first thing she said was "Quinton, can I do your picture first?" He dropped to his knees, started saying how bad the taste would be, then stopped. He stood up "just a picture?" he asked.

Yes, it was going to be one of those visits.

Quinton is my dramatic child. He loves hard. He dislikes hard {we don't use the "h_t_" word in our house}. He can out stubborn most anyone. I feel like my head hits a brick wall many days while trying to point his stubbornness in the correct direction.

I love my Quinton. I actually LOVE that he is not easily changed, that he doesn't care with others think about him when he feels a certain way.

Those two last paragraphs contradict each other, I know.

I know we have a lot of training ahead of us, but I am looking forward to see what God's has planned for Quinton. His determination pointed in the correct direction will be unstoppable!

Back to the dentist....

The other two went side by side first. They did AWESOME. Didn't cry, complain, or bite. Put the headphones on and watched the tv above their stations. Cleanings, check up, x-rays, fluoride, etc.

Quinton went last. Whined the entire time through his brother's check ups. Started screaming when she stuck her gloved finger in his mouth because "it tastes bad". Fast forward through 20 minutes of trying to talk him through a 2 minute cleaning process. Tears, spitting, water that "didn't taste right", no x-rays. The entire time trying to check out he was crying and trying to wipe the fluoride out of his mouth with his shirt.

I was frustrated, embarrassed, upset. It's not like I cater to his whims, or don't let him do things he doesn't want to do. {I can't imagine if he was an only child! He has had to learn a lot being a brother.} He was given a few words from me in the bathroom and in the car afterwards.

It took me until after lunch and our drive home to realize something.

Then I felt even more frustrated with the situation and my parenting.

I turned to Easton & Dalton. I told them how proud I was of them. They did fantastic. They never complained. I am proud of their goodie bags. They did awesome with their x-rays. I tell them how thankful I am for their attitudes.

The Squeaky Wheel. Ugh.

*palm to head*

Wordless Wednesday - Two Down, One to Go

Christmas Traditions

Our boys are small, but we are starting some Christmas traditions. I realized this year I need to be more purposeful in them. I have lots of things I like to do, but they have always been "when we get to doing them". Christmas pjs are purchased, but I don't have a certain time I give them out. Our Christmas gingerbread village is bought, but we have not set aside the actual time to make them. As I follow other friend's blogs (Lori & Keri so far), I feel bad that I don't have these things nailed down. We have done our tree (accompanied by Mariah on the iPod), gone shopping individually at Dollar Tree for Daddy and brothers, wrapped Daddy's presents... I think that is it so far. I just want to have a more "set" time and order to what we do. The boys would enjoy it too, knowing what and when to expect the next fun thing!

This year I decided I need to be more purposeful. I think this has to do a lot with the boys age. They ask a lot more questions, they soak it all in. Above all else I want them to understand the birth of Jesus is the reason for this season.

Don't get me wrong, I totally LOVE Christmas and all that comes with the season. I love the lights, trees, purchasing gifts, music, the movies, etc. I just need to help guide my children for the actual purpose of Christmas through the midst of all the other activities.

One way I help them to focus on others is to shop for their brothers and find something their brothers will like. They don't get anything for themselves. They enjoy, and don't like it all at the same time :) "I don't want my brothers to have candy if I don't get candy - it's not fair."

Another thing we started this year is a Jesse tree. I had never heard of it before until we talked about it at MOPs. It's an advent project of devotions and ornaments that you do with your kids every day in December until Christmas. At MOPs last month we created the ornaments. Actually, we each brought twenty of the same ornament that we created. Then we exchanged with everyone else for the ones they made.

While you are "supposed" to add an ornament every day, we have changed that up since we have three and it's hard for them not to be upset that it's not "their" day. So I put all the ornaments up and we do an "I spy" to find the ornament we are talking about that day.

So far it seems to be going well! I will admit that we started a couple days late, so we have been doubling up. The boys have enjoyed it and so have I!

We use the devotional for our Jesse Tree Advent. You also can print off ornaments to work on them yourselves!

What do you do that helps your family be purposeful for Jesus this season?

our black 4 ft Jesse Tree full of ornaments

(yes, black. I enjoy things that are "different")

The boys wooden manger that they can play with all the time

A Typical Day....

Thanks again for the questions from my post Who Goes There? I have enjoyed reading the questions, and hopefully my answers will suffice. Feel free to ask more questions about ANYTHING either on this post, or my Who Goes There? post. I will *try* to answer them all.

The next one I am going to address is from Lori. My friend from Jr High, High School, College, and LIFE! She is a mom, youth pastor, aunt, sister, support to her all her friends and family. She is one of those people that you want praying for you! Her little boy is just a couple months older than my boys. She also has an adorable little girl, and another little one on the way!

Here are Lori's questions:

"1. what was one thing about motherhood you were VERY mistaken about before you had your boys?

2. when will you be in MI next?

3. what does a typical day look like for you and how in the world do you get it all done???"

Easiest questions first (yes, I know I am answering out of order).

2. We will be in Michigan in early August! The exact dates are not figured out yet. We need to get the kids together and hang out! Maybe we can do a park and invite anyone that would want to come! I'll let you know when we nail down the exact dates.

1. My thoughts of having a baby was going to be ON THE GO. I would have a baby, and go-go-go! Go shopping, find deals to sell on ebay, visit friends, parks, travel and visit family. Have baby-will travel. Then I had three. Now, I don't know if it's more of a reality because of having three, or if it really is this way with just one. I could NOT just go. Going anywhere caused hours of planning and prep work. Sometimes it was easier to just stay home than go anywhere. However, I learned I NEEDED that time to get out. When the boys were infants, I had a friend that I would escape to her house. She let me take over with all my stuff. She parented her own kids, and I parented mine. But just being in a different environment with another ADULT to talk to was what I needed!

3. Typical day?? hahaha! Oh, they change all the time depending on what is going on, my mood, the boys mood, etc. Recently I decided to take the boys out of their preschool class, so they are with me 24/7 now. I always knew that they were in a great 2 day a week (3 hrs a day) program in AR, but I never knew how GREAT it was until I don't have it anymore.

Maybe pictures will show it better? I took phone pictures during a few of the past few days while thinking about how to answer Lori's questions.

Here is a GREAT and productive day we had last week....

Quinton's horrible allergy eyes work me up at 7. I was EXCITED! Mind you, my boys normally get up between 6-6:30 am. Immediately off to give him his eye drops. Poor kid inherited my allergies :(

This also made me so excited! I was dressed right away!

Happy and dressed kids at the breakfast table. My Easton buddy.

We got the living room, kitchen and play room all straightened up that morning!

AHHH, nap time. Time to check my email and some favorite blogs....

My pile of 1/2 accomplished laundry from after naptime was over. I HATE HATE HATE folding laundry. I love to clean it all, but HATE to fold it.

Running out to the store with the boys. Dalton showing off his pick for new bedding (we have been looking for 6 months for the right bedding at the right price. I did not end up with this set, I ordered a set this week from JCPenney online, but through the store. I found out if you go to the store and they don't have it, they can order it for you free shipping site to store!)

THAT was a GREAT DAY!!! I felt good, accomplished, refreshed!!!

Now, I try to keep my blog uplifting. I don't want to complain. But I also want to be REAL.

THIS is what the next day yielded....

When I asked the boys to clean up, and thought it was done.... I found this stacked at the bottom of the stairs while they were napping. GRRRRR.

This was my sink the next day. Funny thing happens when you get the entire kitchen cleaned and dishes washed, what happens when you don't get the dishes put away right away. There happens to be NO place for the dirty ones. HOW do we accumulate SO MANY dishes SO FAST???

Lori, I hope that answers your question!!! Let me know if you have any more :)

Sleeping Multiples - isn't that an Oxymoron???

I'm going to try a little something new. A few blog posts back I asked WHO GOES THERE? to find out who is reading my blog, and if they have any questions they want me to answer. Thanks to all who responded!!! I have lots of stuff I am working on compiling, so I can *try* and answer them all :) You can review that post, or comment on this post if you have any questions you'd like me to attempt to answer.

The first question I am going to choose to answer was not the first person to ask. However, my heart goes out to a new mom of multiples, Keri. I have been friends with her sister, Lori, for years! Jr. High, High School, College, and she stood up in my wedding! Boy, are we getting old! ha! Keri has a beautiful little girl and newborn twin boys. I've love reading her blog.

Her question:
"I wanna know what your first few months were like with triplets and did you get any sleep?!!"

My head hurt when I saw this question. It hurt from remembering back to those days. I love my boys dearly, but I think I was a walking robot at times. I think all new parents feel that way!

To answer that question, I have to give a little background. We were blessed that our boys made it to 33 1/2 weeks gestation. They were considered preemies. In the NICU they said they were "feeders and growers". Basically, they had to learn to eat. They all came home after 25 days in the NICU, our biggest was just barely tipping the scale at 5 pounds, and they were eating just under 1 ounce of milk at a feeding. These feedings consisted of manipulating their mouths to properly take the bottles, and constantly stimulating them to stay awake. After 30 minutes if they did not finish their bottles, we had to stop trying because they were burning more calories than they were ingesting. Preemies like to sleep. A lot. Goodness, they are not supposed to be out of their Mommy's belly yet! Because they were preemies, we had to add calories to my milk supply we gave them, and had to WAKE THEM UP every 3 hrs to feed.

With THAT explanation out of the way.... at just shy of 3 months we were given the go ahead from their pediatrician to stop waking them up at night. We rejoiced! We had gotten to a point where we hardly were sleeping at nights because of how long feedings took. Then we went to switching shifts rather than sharing them all and trying to sleep in between. Dan would get home from work and we'd do one feeding together. Then I would go to bed for two full feedings. Then I would get up while Dan slept for the other two feedings. Then in the morning before work we'd share a feeding again. I remember the first time we chose to try it, those 5 hrs of sleep were awesome! However, that got old fast. So you can see why we were excited to try and get them to sleep through the night.

Now, this is MY OPINION that I am going to give here on MY BLOG. I know all people don't agree with the "cry it out" method for getting their kids to sleep. That is fine if you feel differently. I am just speaking about what worked for my family. Most importantly - MY SANITY! My cousin suggested a book called Babywise. I think it's a great book for new parents to read! Just like anything, you take from it what you want.

Once our kids were given the "ok" from the dr, we did it. We let them cry. I set a timer for 5 minutes. Walked out, went into my room, turned on fans, noise makers, and the TV to drown out the crying. After 5 minutes, went in there and gave them their pacis, spoke gently to them, and rubbed their backs. No picking them up. Walked out. Set the timer for 8 minutes. Went back into my room and I CRIED AND CRIED AND CRIED. I was a first time mom, and I have my three babies in the next room crying because all they want is me. I felt guilty that I was doing this to them because I wanted sleep. Dan helped me stay strong. Repeated at 10 min, 15, 20, 25, then it was 35 by the time the last one put himself back to sleep!

Based on what others told me, this takes 2-3 nights for it to work. Each night gets a little shorter for how long it will take them to go to sleep. Start with a night time routine, and try and tire them out during the day so it will be faster for them to succumb to sleep. I rationalized in my head if it was 2-3 nights for one child, it would be 6-9 nights for three. It was about 4 nights.

It worked. Our three 3 1/2 month old infants were sleeping 7 hours at night. Sleep is a MUST for any babies! That is when they grow, and their bodies NEED it! So helping them learn was important to us. My sanity of getting my husband back at night for us to SLEEP in the same room was a must.

Now, there are age growth disturbances that will mess up their great sleeping patterns. Those exact ages I can't recall, but it's discussed in the book. Also, sickness and travel will mess up the sleep patterns and they have to be reintroduced back after that.

I will tell you that I am a firm believe that this method was exactly what my family needed. And it worked for us! My cousin has two kids a product of it, a friend has four, and another one. Those are just instances off the top of my head.

Keri, God bless you for all you are going through right now!!! Being 4 years past that stage, I can tell you that those issues then are no longer issues now. The parenting changes, and the approaches change. However, dealing with those things are no longer issues right now.

I hope that helped! If not, or if you want more details, let me know :)

June 2006