My mom texted me this morning and said,

"Happy 7 month birthday to the babies!"

Wait.... what is the date?? What day is it even??

OMG, she's right. They are 7 months today.

Good thing my mom remembers stuff like this. Otherwise I'd go day by day and then suddenly realize they're a year older.

Oh how time is zipping by.

So, I scrubbed them clean and lined them up for a picture.

On the move!

My 7 month miracles.

..................

And just so you know, Colin is 2 years and almost 8 months today :-) He's a fantastic big brother and also becoming a big boy.

Just the other day we went to Target, picked up pull-ups, m&m's and jumped feet first into potty training.

The boys love watching him play trains.

By the looks on their faces, Finn and Carter are just plotting how they can get at those trains.... I think we're in trouble by next month :-)

A Perfectly Imperfect Trip to Sonny Acres Farm

Hmmm, I wonder whose hand that is, sneaking in to steal an apple??

Last Tuesday my parents were in town and we decided to make the trek out to Sonny Acres farm with all the kiddos. We went last year and Colin enjoyed it so much that we were determined to get back this year (and it would take some determination as it's a good hours drive outside of the city).

Per usual, it took FOREVER to pack up, load the kids in the minivan and get on the road. We left much later than planned for a variety of reasons. By the time we got on the road we realized that we'd get there just in time to ride a few rides before they closed. Luckily, you can still buy pumpkins, apples, cider and other goodies for a hour past when the rides close. Still, to a two year old, the rides are the best part! And to a parent, watching your two year old ride the rides, is the best part!

As I pulled onto the highway to start the hour drive out of the city and into the suburbs, we were immediately stopped by bumper to bumper traffic. Then almost on cue, it started raining.

We wondered if we should turn back as it hardly seemed to make sense to sit in traffic especially with all these babies who could start crying any minute, only to eventually arrive to potentially pouring rain and rides which would long be closed.

The answer was very clear.

NO WAY were we turning the mini-van around and going home! After getting out of the house and all that entails, we were going somewhere. If not the pumpkin farm, somewhere else!

Traffic eventually moved, the babies stayed quiet and then I made a significant wrong turn onto a highway heading the wrong direction. Let's just add another 20 minutes to this late in the day drive!

Finally we arrived.

By the grace of God it wasn't raining but we only had a short period of time left before the kiddie rides closed. I dropped off my parents and Colin, parked mini-van, unloaded the babies, got them in their snowsuits and hats, loaded them in the stroller and took off like a cannon for the rides.

Finn in the front with his, "I'm not sure about this mom" face on

And these two birds in the back, Carter on the left, Everett on the right

Picture this for a moment: crazy mom sprinting through pumpkins, pushing a monstrous stroller full of snow suited babies. I got looks.... and a few comments. I didn't care. I sprinted to the rides determined to catch the joy on Colin's face as he rode the train.

Seeing Colin's excitement riding the rides, his joy in feeding the animals, and noticing the the subtle display of pride on his face as he rode the ponies (something he was too afraid to do last year) made all the effort worth it ten times over.

And on this day I realized something about myself too.

My kids are teaching me to roll with the punches in a way that I've never been able to do before.

Even with the traffic, the rain, the wrong turn, the fact that we had limited time on the rides, the fact that I found myself making bottles and feeding babies at the edge of a petting zoo while goats gawked and licked their lips, or that we needed a flashlight to pick out pumpkins because by the time we finally arrived it was too dark to see them.... no matter what, I didn't feel panic, or disappointment or frustration. Not even when Carter managed to spit up all over my dad right in front of the cash register for all to be grossed out by.

It really surprised me. I kept thinking, "Why am I not feeling at all anxious about this?? This trip is a disaster on so many levels!"

I realized that more and more I've started letting go of holding onto expectations and images of how things should go and instead enjoy however things are going. This is huge for me.

What my kids are slowly teaching me is that there is real joy and freedom in accepting and even embracing however things unfold. Believe me there are days I don't roll with the punches as easily... I'm still learning! But taking this perspective on this day allowed me to see being the only family left pumpkin hunting in the dark through the eyes of Colin, who saw it as a great adventure, rather than feeling like a failure because we arrived so late and my poor boy could barely see four pumpkins ahead of himself in the dark (I brightened the picture above!)

By the time we loaded the van, changed everybody's diaper, got the babies out of their snowsuits and buckled everybody in their car seats, we were the very last people to leave, including workers!

One lone mini van

Colin keeps talking about the trip to the pumpkin farm and wanting to re-live it through the pictures we took. Whenever someone comes over, he proudly shows them the pumpkins he picked out. He saw the trip as nothing less than a wild success.

For me this little excursion will go down in history as the time I realized what they say is really true: life is sweeter when you take it as it comes and learn to laugh through the missteps of motherhood.

First Foods!

The boys had their first taste of solid foods just over a week ago- then they got that darn cold I've mentioned in previous posts and it took me a while to get the pics off my camera. Anyhoo, here they are!

I wasn't sure what to expect this time around as Colin was soo not into solid foods (he's still my picky eater.)

However, this time around was quite a different experience. For example, I thought Finn might bite my finger off as I approached his mouth with the spoonful of rice cereal! Everett was reaching for the bowl so forcefully that he sent it flying against the wall. By the way, if that happens to you, consider cleaning it immediately. Once that rice cereal dries, it is way sticky to get off. Trust me on this one.

Carter was very eager to eat too, but typical Carter, he patiently waited. :-)

The highchairs we're using, are these from IKEA. I love them! They don't take up a lot of room, easily fold up when you're not using them, and you can push them up against the table counter. And- they were super inexpensive!

Once I realized we were officially into solid foods, I took a trip to Whole Foods to buy enough food to last a few weeks.

Here I am at the checkout:

I mean seriously?! How ridiculous is that?

With Colin, I mostly made my own baby food but this time around I'm feeling like I just can't. There are already too many things on my plate, so to speak. But man is baby food pricey! Especially the organic stuff. If you live near a Whole Foods you might already know this, but if you buy more than 12 jars of any baby food, you get a 10 percent discount. Whoo hoo! I'll take it!

Happy Friday!

In case you were concerned about my sanity after reading this post, let me just tell you, today I feel like a new woman!! Last night I got, SEVEN straight hours of sleep! Whoo hoo!

I couldn't go cold turkey with the middle of the night bottle for the boys.... maybe I'm too much of a softy but the timing just doesn't feel right with that one. Still, clearly I need more sleep to function during the day! So, two nights ago we started giving the boys a bottle at 10:00 p.m. (they go to bed for the night at 6:30). For this feeding, we keep them in their cribs (propped though) and only wake them just enough to take the bottle. We don't change their diapers and lift them up just to gently and quickly burp them. For the most part, they've slept through these feedings.

The first night we tried this, they still all woke up at 4 and 5 a.m. wanting a bottle. They were mad when one didn't magically appear. Really mad. I didn't leave them to cry it out on their own (again, the big softy thing). Rather, I hung over cribs rubbing backs, re-inserting pacifiers, gently tossing lovies next to faces and saying almost aloud, "I think I can, I think I can, I think we can...." It was rough but eventually they fell back asleep and I crawled back in bed.

Last night, we went through the same routine at 10:00 p.m., went to bed and next thing I knew, I awoke TO CHRIS'S ALARM AT 6:45!!!!!!!! Just two days ago I was plotting how I could sneak away to a hotel to get some rest (seriously!) and today my wish came true in my own home :-)

Who knows if this sleeping all night thing will continue, but I'm hopeful.

Tonight Chris and I are having a dinner date at home. Our "reservation" won't be until 8:05 after the last kid goes to bed, and the three highchairs lined up at the end of the table will be a dead give away that we're not at a real restaurant but I'm excited. I may even put some make-up on if I can find it. Look out!

Colin and I went to store this morning to buy the ingredients for the menu I have planned tonight:

Olives for an Appetizer
Spinach Salad
Salmon with Mash Potatoes
Cheese Platter
Mochi for Dessert

As we were leaving for the store, Colin yelled, "Wait Mommy! My HAT!"

(Let me explain what he was referring too. Yesterday, the hat part of his Halloween costume arrived in the mail but he didn't see it as a costume, rather just his new every day fall/ winter hat.... which I guess, why not??)

Can you guess what his costume is going to be this year???

This picture could also be entitled, "How to make every elderly person's day at the grocery store" :-)

Off to set the table for my hot date tonight! (aka, clear the empty jars of baby food, used spoons and bibs,  and wipe the table free of smeared butternut squash puree)

Happy Friday everyone!

More blessings....

Carter and Finn both had a cardiology check- up this morning.

In case you are new to this blog, here's a re-cap of why we were even at a cardiology appointment this morning. A few days after Finn was born, the doctor heard a concerning murmur and after a few tests we found out that he had many holes in his heart (VSD's). One hole was particularly concerning due to the size. As scary as the description of his heart condition sounded to Chris and I, we tried to trust what the doctors were saying which was that this could be very treatable. They said he may need surgery one day, but even then, the surgery is considered minor. Still, try telling any mom and dad that heart surgery on their precious baby is "minor". We were scared. (I also mention it in this post. )

Because Finn was found to have this issue, Carter and Everett were promptly given the same tests. Everett was fine but Carter had a very small VSD. So, Carter has also come along to the cardiology appointments to get checked too.

This morning, on our way to the appointment, I was nervous. We hadn't been in for a check in several months. Oh how badly I just wanted to hear that my boys hearts were healthy.

The boys on the other hand, were totally chill and seemed thrilled to be out and about! They were all smiles, even while having their blood pressure taken.

First, they both got an EKG which involves sticking tiny leads all over their chest and upper thigh, that wires attach to. Carter went first because I was pretty sure he'd just roll with the punches and be cool with it. Finn watched intently.

Carter did great! Although he did try and eat the wires.

My sweet Finn wants to be cooperative, he just wears his heart on his sleeve big time. If he's happy, you know it and it's so infectious. If he's scared or unhappy about something you also know it and it can be hard for him to recover if he's made to do something he's unsure about. But he totally rose to the occasion today. I held him for the EKG and then the Echo cardiogram. The Echo took 20 minutes and he was expected to stay as still as possible. He did it!! As long as I was holding him he was fine.

Look, Finn already knows how to work an Echo machine! So smart, this boy....

Then we waited for the doctor to review everything and come in to talk with us. I held my breath.

She came in, listened to their hearts and announced, "They're good." Not only did she not hear the murmurs anymore, but each of the boy's hearts showed no sign of any VSD's. None.

"Sometimes the holes just close up on their own. Even the larger one that Finn had. It seems to have closed up."


When do we have to come back for another check?

Never.

My boys hearts are both fine and mine, is overflowing with gratitude and relief.

Will I ever sleep again??

My dear friend Candace called me this morning and boy was I thankful. She also has multiples, although that wasn't what originally drew us together. Our friendship was forever sealed over tacos in the middle of a Malagasy village, during our time in the peace corps. Who would have thought ten years later we'd also share the bond of parenting multiples? My wish for all parents who have multiples is that they have someone they can call and blab on and on about the challenges that come with multiples and hear someone on the other line say, "I know. I've been there. It gets easier." And my favorite line from Candace today, "I promise, you will sleep again." I sooooo needed to hear that today!

With the exception of a few good nights, the trips have not been sleeping well for what feels like a very long time now. Actually, even as I type this I must admit, individually they are all great sleepers... I don't think I'd have an issue with any one of their sleep patterns if they weren't part of a trio. Collectively they are causing me to be up A LOT at night. At first I attributed it to teething, then back to back colds that hit us hard, then maybe teething again... but who knows really.

All I know is I'm exhausted. Really exhausted. I have such an immense amount of respect for the parents who are all up night with kids and then somehow go into work and hold down a job. Wow.

Some time ago, we stopped waking the other babies whenever the first baby would wake up for a bottle during the night. This is because rather than reinforcing the message that you need to wake up and eat, we wanted to reinforce the message that "you don't! Sleep as long as you can!" But they all still get up for a bottle, just all at different times now. The times are not always predictable either. So sometimes there are a couple hours between each of the babies bottle, sometimes just 30 minutes- or less. I find lately I'm not even able to fall into a deep sleep because a part of me is just waiting for the next baby to wake up and want their bottle.

I'm debating whether or not to drop the middle of the night bottle..... cold turkey. I'd still go in and soothe the babies, but just not feed them. Our pediatrician says they're ready and actually I feel they are too. I just HATE forcing milestones rather than letting them organically happen in their own way and time. At the same time, I need sleep and maybe these boys just need a little push to drop the bottle and in return get a mommy that can see straight during the day....

I don't know, I gotta think on it.

p.s.- lest anyone thinks I'm complaining too much... Believe me, even in my sleep deprived state and even when it's 3 a.m. and I haven't slept yet.... a piece of me is still grateful. Seriously. If you've ever longed for a baby you know what I mean. I'd way rather be loosing sleep over tending to babies then loosing sleep over wishing for one.

p.p.s- if there are a million spelling and grammar errors in this post, it's because I'm so exhausted.... have I mentioned that yet???? :-)

Chris and Carter, this morning at Carter and Finn's cardiology appt (more on that tomorrow). How I wish I could sleep like a baby.... or like my husband who can crash anywhere, anytime!

Can you just stay little forever?

The other night we were driving home to Chicago, after attending the funeral of an amazing woman and mother in Michigan.

It was close to midnight and we'd been driving for a while. The kids were all sound asleep in the back and Chris and I found ourselves contemplating all sorts of aspects of life.

I was telling him about how torn I feel about going back to work, even if for only a few hours a week. I feel torn about whether to try and finish my PhD, which I started back in 2007 in the hopes of teaching someday. Last winter, I took a leave of absence from the program.

The real truth is that I actually don't feel torn about what I want to do. I want to be home with my boys right now. And yes, I realize how blessed I am to even have that option! But I worry about what could happen if I completely step away from my field for too long.... will I have a passion and a vocation to return to someday?

The conversation culminated with following exchange:

Me: I'm just worried that if I don't finish this degree or keep my toes in the water at work, if I give everything I have and all that I am to these boys, that I'll feel lost when they all go to college (which will pretty much be all at the same time!).

Chris: That's far in the future. You have time to figure it out.

Me: Yeah, but I already think about it. It's weird because it's a little like falling in love even though you know the person is going to break your heart in the end. (Yes, I realize I was being WAY dramatic. Just having gone to a loved one's funeral + weeks upon weeks of no sleep + driving late at night = a few dramatic statements. )

Chris: What do you mean?

Me: I mean, I feel I could easily give up my career and just give them all of me year after year after year..... and then one day they're going to grow up and walk out the front door and not need me anymore.

There's a long pause as we stare at the head lights from the cars coming and going in the road.

Chris: That is the goal.

Ahhh, one of the great irony's of parenthood. You have these children that you love beyond belief and want to always be near, and yet the goal is to raise them to be able to someday live without you.

Still, I think there's a right time for everything. I won't give up my passion for the work I've done outside the home, or my quest to finish my degree but now is not the time for me to focus on those endeavors. My heart just isn't in it. It's home with these boys and I have to follow my heart on this one.

T.G.I.F ?

Woohoo, it's Friday! Time to kick back and relax over the weekend!

Unless you're a mom, then you're pretty much never off duty. I still get excited about Fridays though, mostly because it means that Chris will get to be home with us all day Saturday and Sunday. But the same day to day duties that go along with having four young kiddos, are all still there.

This week pretty much kicked our butts. The boys all got a terrible cold, which made sleeping difficult for them, especially the babies. And when the kids aren't sleeping well, we're not sleeping well! One night I swear I got up about twice an hour to try and help sick kiddos get back to sleep. Today the cold finally caught up with me too. Yuck!

This afternoon Colin somehow got a minuscule cut on his finger which bleed just a teeny tiny bit. He was hysterical, wailing, "I need a doctor!" "I need a doctor!"

Then he was all bent out of shape about taking his nap because he said he needed to mow the lawn. "NOW". I told him that although the lawn certainly needed his mowing, it could probably wait a few hours. He wasn't happy with that answer.

He was still feeling under the weather and just seemed to be having a rough Friday. Believe me, I could relate.

Then tonight, as Chris and I were running babies upstairs to bed, I came back down to the basement to find this:

Colin, wearing only my sunglasses, a shirt and his puppy dog slippers- nothing else (a diaper change left unfinished I suppose... it happens with 4 kids... at least in our house it does!). He had his feet up watching t.v. and enjoying his drink.

This kid knows it's Friday!

M and M come to town- Yippee!!

Cousins doing their thing!

My sister in law Madeline and niece Macy came to visit this past weekend. We had such a great time! How seriously lucky I am to have a sister in law I can also call, friend.

On Monday we decided to take the kids to the Lincoln Park Zoo. It was a beautiful fall day- the best a fall day can get. The weather was warm, but with just enough of a cool breeze to wear jeans and bring a sweatshirt. Golden leaves were falling everywhere in our path.

While I'd considered bringing all the boys, at some point I switched my goal to bringing Colin and just one baby. The other two (both of whom seemed to be getting colds anyway, would stay with Amelie). So that means Maddes and I only had three kids to get out of the house.

Yet getting out the door took hours. Hours! 

Why is it SO hard to get out the door?! Or at least for me it almost always is. 

Just moving the car seats in the mini van around to accommodate Macy's car seat, my Valco and Maddes' BOB was a spectacle in and of itself. 

But we made it and the zoo was delightful!



Very worth it!

A few highlights for me were when Colin turned to me, after staring for a few minutes at the camels and said, "Mommy, what IS that??"



He'd never seen a camel before....

Finn's got his tough guy face on.. "You talkin' to me?!"

And then taking Finn on the merry go round for the first time. I was thinking about this time too.

Unbeknownst to me, Colin also brought his pocket flashlight.... I guess to see the animals better. Oh how this kid cracks me up! I had to tell him that I wasn't sure if the Gorillas like having a light shined right in their eyes....

I can't go to the zoo anymore without remembering this most perfect day there. Since that time, I've never gone again when there haven't been hoards of people there.

Still, it was a great day watching the cousins explore together!

Come back soon Maddes and cousin Macy!!!

The best part about purchasing two more cribs??

(besides the fact that this means better sleep for all?)

The leftover boxes!!!!

My little- and big- construction guys got to build their dream cardboard home. It's huge- although I think it may need a woman's touch. 

Colin's taken great joy in knocking down a wall just so he has to get out his tools and re-build it. Since this pic was taken, the house has moved indoors, now has a doorbell and lots of stickers plastered along the outside.

As I kid, I can remember thinking that cardboard houses were just the greatest thing EVER. 

They pretty much still are.

A new chapter

At first the triplets slept in the basement.

Eventually they made their way up to our bedroom where they've been every since. One baby sleeps in Colin's old crib and the other two sleep in pack n plays. Although I like having my babies close, it's hard having them in our bedroom. For one, there never seems to be an end to the day, when I can walk into my bedroom, close the door and unwind from the day. Instead, we'd tip toe into the room, keep all the lights off and fall asleep listening to the sounds of my babies sleeping. On one hand I love hearing those sweet little baby sounds, but on the other hand, it's caused me to get a very poor nights rest for....well, as far back as I can remember.

Thursday night I was beyond exhausted by the time I quietly crawled into bed. Right on cue one of the babies heard me and woke up. What followed was what you might call, a MOMM moment. Mother Of Multiples Meltdown. No tears, but a lot of over the top statements about how I. CAN'T. GO. ANOTHER. DAY. WITHOUT. SLEEP!!! I'd hit my breaking point. Clearly we needed to figure out out a way for the babies to be out of our room. It was time.

The only problem is we that live in the middle of a city and for us that means small living quarters. Our little Chicago bungalow only has two bedrooms on the top floor. Chris and I and the babies have been in one room and Colin in the other. Until last Friday, we'd never considered putting all the kids together in Colin's room.

I mean, it wouldn't work, right???

The babies would wake up Colin during nap time and in the middle of the night. His room is only 9 x 12 and besides, it was Colin's room first. Colin would be traumatized by the babies encroaching on even more of his space.... right?

But we were desperate to try something. So we did. Friday night Chris and his little helper Colin broke down the crib and pack n plays and moved them into Colin's room. I waited for the meltdown from Colin that I was sure would come.

It didn't.

He was fine about it all. Dare I say he was even excited about the brothers moving in with him.

That night, I had the best nights rest that I've had in as far back as I can remember. The babies slept better too.... practically through the night. It was such a success, that I drove straight to Target on Saturday and bought two more cribs and all the bedding to boot.

Saturday night Everett and Carter both slept almost 12 hours straight. Finn got up just once for a bottle. And I got to walk into our bedroom, actually turn on the lights and the t.v. and read before bed. It was amazing and rejuvenating.

Saturday and Sunday afternoon we offered that Colin could nap in our bed (usually what he always asks to do) because we worried that the babies would wake him since they take a much shorter nap. To my shock he responded, "No. Sleep with babies!" So that's what he did. And you know what? It was fine. The babies woke up and he continued sleeping.

I continue to be pleasantly surprised that the things I often worry the most about, are the very things that more often than not, end up being no big deal. I was SO worried about how Colin would react to the brothers moving in, and yet, he was thrilled and welcoming. I was worried it would be too close quarters but it seems kind of cozy and hey, they're brothers.

I'm thinking this is going to be a good move for all.

Cozy

Reminder that I'm a boy mom #5

Photo curtesy of Colin

Today I got suckered into mowing the lawn and I am not a mow the lawn kind of girl. Never have been. But I could tell, he was not going to take "no" for an answer.

All morning:

"Mommy, mow lawn???"

"Moooooommmmmyyyy...... mow lawn??" (I should note that every time he says this, he acts as though it's the first time he's presenting the idea and each time says it in a way that conveys, "I've got a brilliant, novel idea!!!")

"Mommy mow LAWN!"

"Mow lawn NOW!" (mad face emerges)

"Wanna mow lawn mommy?" (sweet voice again)

After listening to this all morning, sometime around 3:00 I caved,


"Fine. Let's go." 

Embarrassingly, I had to ask my 2 year old son how to even work the mower. He explained that he wasn't allowed to touch it (due to the blades and all) but he walked me through the steps with his words and exuberant hand motions.

Just as I started he yelled, "Stop!"

"Clean poo poo"

Awesome. Now I get to clean up the dog's poop. Another job I avoid if I can. Colin thought it was the best activity ever. I just sort of feel like I deal with enough poop throughout the day that I shouldn't have to deal with the dogs either.... but I digress.

There we were, me mowing the lawn and Colin following close behind with his own mower and continuous instructions for how I could improve. How lucky I am that he'll correct me if I'm not doing it right :)

He thought it was the greatest thing ever and even stopped to take a picture (I needed proof!). After cleaning up dog poop and mowing, we pulled weeds. Colin showed me what to do.

As I was mowing the lawn, I once again, just like so many times before, thought about how when I was little and pictured being a mom, I didn't really envision this kind of stuff. Somehow I envisioned myself having tea parties, playing house and using an easy bake oven. Maybe I'll still do those activities someday with these boys.....

But for today, it's all about yard work.

Learning as I go.

Baptism, part 2

The weather in Chicago on Sunday was just beautiful- warm and sunny. Even so, for some reason we dressed the triplets in their snowsuits.

What? You can't tell that's Finn on the left? (With him, the ever stylish Macy James!)

You never know if/ when a cool gust of wind will blow in, right??

And okay, I may have been just a little up tight about getting to church on time.... but we made it! Fifteen minutes early even.

The service was beautiful and inspiring and I just felt so thankful and so lucky that God has blessed us with these boys.

Carter Paige

Everett Owen

Finley Joseph

After the service, we celebrated with a brunch at home.

I got out the good china, which sadly we'd never used! One set was given to us when we got married, and the second set we purchased while living in the Philippines. We'd gone to a Noritake warehouse and spent hours upon hours digging through dirty plates, trying to sort out the gems from pieces that were cracked. It was at least 90 degrees, unbelievably humid and we were filthy by the end of the day. But we got a great deal! During that tedious process, if someone had told me I'd be using that china to serve brunch five years later on the day my triplets were baptized, I would have thought they were NUTS! 

After brunch, we gave each couple around the table, a picture of the triplets in their baptismal outfits with a personal note written on the back about the difference they have made in our lives. I hope that every time each person looks at the picture, they will know what a true and significant difference they have made in each of these babies lives. We would not be where we are today, without their love and support.

Instead of gifts for the boys to open, we asked our family to consider making a donation to the March of Dimes organization, specifically supporting nicu families. Our experience of the nicu was that our boys were relatively healthy during their whole two week stay, they almost always had friends and family up there to give them love, and we could easily travel to and from the hospital to see them. We also knew that Colin was in great hands at home. But for many families, their nicu experience involves far sicker and more premature babies, lengthy stays, long travels and extended stays in hotels far from home and support systems. The March of Dimes works to support these families by providing information, comfort and resources in a variety of ways. A story book that Colin got from the March of Dimes is still one of his favorites! Lately I keep thinking of the verse, "To whom much is given, much is expected." Man have we been given a lot. Three healthy babies, a well adjusted 2 year old and an incredible support system. I hope that as our boys grow up and develop a faith, giving of their time, talents and resources will always be central. We thought that their baptism day would be a good time to try and demonstrate this.