31 days!

If you are one of my many teacher friends, you might not want to continue reading.

I have a countdown for school. 31 days! I'm excited and nervous all at the same time. Clearly a change of heart since my last post.

Last Thursday I went to register the boys at Twin Hickory Elementary. I LOVE it! It's so new & inviting. One of our neighborhood friends works in the school office and she told me who the pre-k teacher was there. My husband had the great idea of suggesting that I look her up on facebook. So naturally I did! I couldn't see her profile but her picture is of this cute little 6-7 month old baby boy. I already like her! Baby/no baby, married/single...I know if you are a teacher you are truly dedicated & passionate about teaching others. But I like the idea of her being a mom & married. We have something in common.

The boys will go two days a week from 8-11am. If you know us, we are not morning people! My kids typically don't wake up until 7:30-8:30am. So being awake, dressed, fed & out the door before 7:40ish (probably earlier on most days so we can go through Stabucks!) is going to make my little puppies tired. Maybe they will start going to bed earlier?

What is Ella going to do on the days the boys have school? Mommy/daugther time! I'm planning on taking her to story time at Twin Hickory library, running errands that I can actually do with one kid, maybe a class at Romp 'n Roll, etc. I will admit that I am excited to just have one on one time with her. This is already something I try to do with each child on a fairly regular basis (even if it's just an outing to a doctor's appointment, sadly). It's hard being a mother of multiples (same age or different ages). I have something called "mother's guilt" (I'm sure all of my mommy friends can relate). I can't always give each child what they want and I feel sad about that. I want to be supermom. I wish I had the energy to devote 100% of my attention to them but I would go insane.

Anyway, enough of the rambling! Just wanted to let you guys know that I am excited for the start of the school year & to see how much my boys progress. They have already come so far & I know this is going to be so good for them. I can't wait for their next evaluation (early November). They are not that far below the lower side of average in most areas and that was just after ONE evaluation (strange environment, new faces, etc).

I feel so blessed!

Emotional Disaster.

I lied. This post is not on my favorite baby products (I promise it's coming). Bear with me. This day has been something I've been anticipating. Something I've been looking forward to. I had an IEP/preschool meeting for the boys this morning. Little did I know that I would turn into an emotional wreck though. As I sit here, my eyes are flooded with tears. Okay, maybe that is an understatement. My mascara is running down my face. Let me explain why. I finally have to face the fact that my boys are not your "average" kid. I have to relive the trauma that they faced when they were born 14 weeks too early. The questions of "what will their future look like?" still linger in my head. I'm sad. I still feel like this is something that I could have prevented even though my heart tells me that I did all that I possibly could. I endured "surgery" at both 8/9 weeks and 18 weeks pregnant. I laid on my sofa/hospital bed for a total of 72 (out of 183) days of my pregnancy. I know I did everything I was asked to do but I can't help but question why my body couldn't at least carry them to 28 or 30 weeks. Maybe their outcome would be totally different. But the truth in the matter is that it just couldn't. 26 weeks and 1 day was their destiny.

Back to the IEP meeting. Because of their extensive delays, both boys qualify for 2 days a week of early intervention preschool (also known as special education). Those last two words are unsettling to me. They will also continue to receive occupational, physical and speech therapy during those 2 "school" days. While I know this will be so great for them, I can't help but be selfish in thinking that this sucks at the same time. I just want them to lead a "normal" life.

The teachers, specialists and therapists were so positive today so why am I feeling like such an emotional disaster? I guess this is just the next step on our journey. Most days I can handle what hand we've been dealt but today is one of those down days. I know tomorrow will be different. I know that I will continue to see my children shine & develop and for that I am truly thankful. But sometimes you just need to cry in order to see the sun shine tomorrow.

Beauty Products I Love...

It's been awhile. And in case anyone is still reading this, I decided to change the pace a little. I thought I'd write about something other than my kids. Even though I am chasing after three little ones, I still take time to "primp" myself each day. It's the only way I feel normal. Even if I am just staying at home. So I thought I'd share some things I can't live without.

1. Philosophy Pure Grace Perfume - You can find this at Ulta for about $50. It smells like HEAVEN. It has a little bit of a beachy smell and it gives me a minute to escape to a sandy beach until I hear someone screaming.

2. Hair Rules Aloe Grapfruit Purifying Shampoo - I don't use this everyday but when my hair starts to feel junky I switch out my regular shampoo (Silky Sexy Hair Shampoo Lite) for this. You can also get this at Ulta. A little goes a long way so the $9.50 investment per bottle can go a long way.

3.  Bed Head Urban Antidotes Recovery Conditioner - This also sold me by the way it smells but I continue to use it because I love how it works with my hair. I blow dry and straighten my hair every single day. Seriously. So this helps bring some moisture back into my "stressed" hair.

4. Unite Lazer Straight Relaxing Fluid - I bought this from Bombshell for about $23 (I think) but it looks like Amazon sells it online for  $17-30. It is super light weight and perfect for taming frizz during the humid months.

5.  Benefit Boi-ing & Eye Bright Duo - You can also find this at Ulta (notice a pattern? Ulta is my weakness). I need this everyday. It makes me look bright eyed even though in reality I am quite exhausted. You can buy it seperate or as a duo. It's about $19-28 dollars.

6. CG Smoothers Tinted Moisturizer - LOVE this! Super light and not oily. Gives your skin a nice balance even on a hot summer day. About $7.

7. Benefit Sugarbomb - This can be used as a blush or all over color. Let's face it, I don't get a lot of sun so this helps bring a little color to my face instead. $28 at Ulta.

8. Earth Therapeutics Gentle Foot Peel - Not enough time to make it in for a pedicure? This stuff will soften your feet and it also has a nice calming aroma. $9

So here is just a preview of things you can find in my bathroom that I use pretty much every single day! Do you have anything that you can't live without?

My next post will be about "baby" items that I can't live without (yep, I can't stay completely away from that topic) so keep following...



Where They Are Today

My poor children. I have no idea how much they weigh. I used to be so diligent about writing down their "stats" but let's just say that doctor appointments have become slightly more chaotic.  When we leave, I'm just happy to have all three kids with me. Whether or not we have all of our toys, sippy cups, shoes and jackets is another thing.

What I do know is what they are accomplishing these days...

Ella
*Ella's vocabulary continues to develop at a rapid pace each day. She can pretty much repeat anything you say but she still only says one word at a time. Amongst her favorites are "elma" (for elmo), shoes, socks, nigh-nigh (night night), more, drink, outside and bye-bye. She definitely has over 50 words already.
*Ella has been out of the "hair pulling" stage for months now. But she recently discovered hitting. Not fun!
*Ella is amazing when it comes to going to bed. She will let us know she is ready for "nigh nigh" by either blowing kisses or just telling us. She will go up to her room, turn on her fan, pick out a book and after we are done reading, I just lay her down. The end! Nap time is exactly the same. She gets her sleeping habits from me!
*Ella also knows how to turn the tv on and off. Not our favorite trick when Chris is watching sports.

Aiden
*Aiden is also really working on his vocabulary. He does not use words on his own so much but he can repeat a handful of things we say. He LOVES to say "Hi" and "Bye". If you've been around him, you were likely greeted by him over 20 times. But each time is just a sweet as the next. He can also say apple, red, green, blue, ball, papa and some others that I'm forgetting.
*Aiden has finally mastered crawling on all fours.
*Aiden has also taken over 13 steps on his own and will let go of furniture to walk towards you. He is so proud of himself each and every time. And so are we!
*Aiden can feed himself with a fork (another area of pride). After each bite, he has the biggest grin on his face.
*Aiden does not like going to bed. But once he is asleep, he is asleep.
*Aiden continues to work on using his left hand. He has made so much progress in the last several months. He can pick up things and drop them without any assistance. Something we weren't sure he'd ever do.

Jack
*Jack has a passion for life that shines through his eyes each day. Despite all of the stuff that was done to him as a newborn, he is a people-person and loves to snuggle.
*Jack is now walking 90% of the time. He still doesn't know how to get up by himself in the middle of the room but he quickly finds something to pull up on and he is off!
*Jack is definitely behind in speech but he continues to show improvement each week. He communicates a lot through expression in his face. He is saying "mama" but most of the time it's "doh". But doh could mean: again, more, what's this?, and many other things.
*Jack loves to eat!!! He should seriously be in a commercial for something. He could sell pretty much anything that you eat.

I know I am forgetting stuff but nap time is over so I gotta run...

Done With My Blogging Break...

It has been over two months since I posted something last. And seriously, it feels like yesterday...

Where has the time gone? Let's see...it's spent saying "No!", "Don't pull your sister's hair", "Please don't throw food on the floor". We've hit the terrible twos...times three! I feel like I've been able to manage having triplets for the last 20 (give or take) months. But now I understand why people approach us and say "Ugh...triplets? Glad it's you & not me!". I'm exhausted. Mentally and physically. Naps never seem long enough. My kids are so full of life & energy (which I love) but at 7:30pm, I am ready for them to go to bed! Where have my sweet babies gone? I still get to see glimpses of them but I long to have the days back where I could just hold them in my arms and they'd be happy.

Don't get my wrong. I know & see that we are so blessed. I for that I am so grateful. But I need a break! Thankfully, Chris and I are going to Wintergreen in a few short weeks with several other friends and the kids get to spend time with their grandparents! I am counting down the days/minutes/seconds until I can only be responsible for myself. No diapers, no meals, no sweeping up meals that they didn't eat, no laundry, no cleaning up their toys at the end of each day, no ELMO! I can't wait. But I know once I am there I will miss my crazy life and my three adorable kids.

Strange how life works...

Betcha Didn't Know...

1. I always sleep with an eye mask and a fan. If I lost power, I'd never sleep.

2. I wanted to grow up to be a Broadway Star...now, I accept & love that I'm a SAHM (stay at home mom).

3. I would own a million different kinds of perfume if I could afford it.

4. My favorite color has practically always been pink but I'm starting a new affair with different shades of purple.

5. I don't wash my sheets once a week...bad habit that I'm trying to break!

6. I'm currently training for my first 10k.

7. I tried Coldstone for the FIRST time this year...ever.

8. I never know what I want to eat but I always know what I don't want to eat.

9. I love the fact that I have "people" on my minivan to represent my family members.

10. I'm incredibly behind on baby books.

I did it!!!

I finally had my first whole night ALONE with my kiddos! I know you are thinking..."Wait, aren't they 19 months? How is this the first time?" or at least that is how I feel. But as you can imagine, after being with them all day long, I'm not one to jump on the idea of being with them alone all night too! But Chris went to the Virginia Tech game last night (pat on the back, I AM a good wife) and I had the option of having my mom spend the night but I sent her home. I did cheat though because she did help me feed them and get them in bed so then all I had to do was sit around and watch Grey's and Private Practice. Tough life! But I was the only one "on call" if there was a nightime outburst and I was completely responsible for feeding all three again at 6am this morning. I set my alarm and it was actually easy getting up to fix bottles (yes, they still get 2 bottles a day) and then I fed them...boom, boom, boom and I was back in bed! They were amazingly generous and let me sleep until 9AM!!! When all woke up, I had this huge feeling of accomplishment and it was an amazing way to start my day. I did it!!!