Grow and learn... grow and learn...

Last week, one of our boys clearly let us know, in the best way he knew how, that we needed to make some changes. Chris and I stayed up until the wee hours that night talking through how we can be better, do better, organize our busy lives better, for our kids. There's no manual per se, for this parenting thing.... and definitely not this triplets plus one thing. We're just doing the best we can.

The good news is that Chris and I have been able to tweak our schedules, shift priorities, and re-organize things to hopefully meet the need that has presented itself. We are trying to provide more predictability, more one on one "special time" with the kids and family time, amongst other tweaks.

Although we've dabbled in doing family activities with all the boys outside the home, this past weekend we really went for it!

The third baby is on my back :-)

We got up bright and early with the boys and went to our favorite breakfast spot. It'd been ages since we'd been there and until last week, we'd never really considered taking all the boys. You know what? It was wonderful. They loved it. Colin got strawberry pancakes, Chris and I chugged coffee and the babies flirted with everyone in sight.

Colin, Carter (behind the plant) and Chris

We cruised around the zoo in our sweet ride, which was also a fantastic time. 

There were many, "We'll remember this" moments. Like when one of the chimpanzees walked across his space and came right up to the glass where my boys were hanging out, like he was curious about them. A triplet, chimp stare down ensued. 

Of course we couldn't get the camera going fast enough, but here are some taken just after the close encounter. Still pretty cool:

We picnicked just outside the zoo. As I sat feeding the babies on a blanket while watching Colin and Chris play, the city skyline surrounding us all, I thought to myself, this is the life.

And, this beats hanging out in the basement.

Everett, our resident walker

We played for hours at the Purple Monkey Playroom, even pushing the babies nap later... living on the edge!

They were obsessed with pushing each other around in this cart. Couldn't get enough!

Sure, there were some mishaps in our weekend adventures- Finn split his lip and then Everett split his lip (both of which had never happened until last weekend and then happened within an hour of each other). I forgot the milk sippy cups at home when we went to the zoo (I feel like I always do this!) and Colin's pancakes, carefully placed in a to go carrier after breakfast, flipped onto the floor- momentarily devastating to a 3 year old.

But we got through it all. We improvised. We were together as a family, making memories and giving our kids what they really want from us, quality time.

The fact that I didn't loose my mind this week...

feels like a win.

This week was hard. Really hard. 

 I got home Monday night from Michigan.... and then Chris left about an hour later to catch a flight to Seattle. 

Which means I was a solo parent this week and although I knew it'd be challenging, it ended up being harder than I anticipated (ha. Have I mentioned how hard it was yet??)

For me, the harder part was balancing the needs of Colin with the needs of the babies. They are at such different stages and it's hard to find a way to keep them all happy, occupied and out of trouble when I'm caring for them alone.

All I have to say is that I realize today more than ever how truly blessed we are to have Amelie. I'm not even sure what to refer to her as anymore... Mother's helper? Nanny? Family. Yup, she is family to us now.

Wouldn't have made it through the week without her help!

Amelie, taking one for the team!

And what an amazing husband and partner on this crazy ride I have in Chris. 

He returned home to a little boy, up way past his bedtime but soooo excited to greet him.

All feels right in the world again.

Today I forgot to take Carter to his PT appointment, forgot to let music class know that we couldn't make our make-up class and forgot where I parked when I went to pick up milk at Target. It was one of those situations where I was walking aimlessly through the parking lot pressing the unlock button on my keychain and listening for the sound... for wayyyy longer then I'd care to admit.

I think I have too much on my mind.... need to find ways to slow down.

However, we did make it to the park today which was great!

Finley

The other boys were there too.... just didn't get to snap their pictures today. Sadly, the swings are really the only thing they can go on lately because they don't yet have shoes!

It's on my to-do list.... :-)

If you want to make God laugh,

tell him your plans.

My mom recalled that quote as I sat by her hospital bed and we waited for the morphine to kick in (my mom has sciatic nerve pain that over the weekend kicked into high gear). 

Nope, this wasn't how we expected to spend the weekend!


Last week as Chris and I excitedly anticipated our boys turning one year, I couldn't help but picture them in their cute little '1' t-shirts, eating cake and laughing. Then on their birthday last Thursday they woke up sick as I've seen them. All had colds, two had fevers, one threw up, nobody slept well. Our amazing Amelie showed up that day with cupcakes but they never got to enjoy them. If you can believe it, they were disinterested in all food! Their big activity of the day was taking a bath with the humidifier steaming in front of them. We did manage to put them in their highchairs and sing "Happy Birthday" followed by singing, "Happy Big Brother Day" to Colin. The babies gave Colin a "Thanks for being an awesome big brother!" gift after which Colin said, "Thank you babies. I like it!"  Then they went to bed.


Two days later Colin and I embarked on an unexpected trip back home to Michigan because my mom ended up in the hospital. She will be okay but man oh man has it been a long year for my parents. Seems like one health issue after another keeps happening and it totally stinks.


We like to picture ourselves on our family vacation, slated for August. God willing, my brothers, sis in law and parents will all have our toes in the sand watching the kids play along Lake Michigan. I picture my parents there warm and healthy. Imagining that day helps make these tough days more bearable. 


In the meantime, no birthday celebration yet for the boys. When they are healthy we'll take their "one year" pictures and feed them the obligatory cake! Also, we'll have that family party, but I'm not having it until both my parents can be there. They (like so many of our friends and family) have been such a critical part of this past year. Specifically, I can't see how I would have made it through hospital bed rest and those early days without my parents help and support. 


So we'll wait and someday in the near future you'll see pictures on this blog from a great family party with everyone present, celebrating these guys: