C'ya Respiratory Flu!!

And don't let the door hit ya on your way out!!

This past week and a half tested me, beyond what I thought I could do (uhmmm editing note: I just re-read this post and that last sentence and thought to myself, "could I BE anymore dramatic?!" I mean, seriously, some people had truly hard weeks! I was just sleep deprived and one very overwhelmed parent! Geesh, pull it together Jessica! No offense to the people out there who had for real hard weeks).

We've said it probably 1,000 times before, that for us the hardest part of parenting five young children seems to be when sickness hits. And this past week sickness hit hard!

First Chris went down. That might be the hardest part of all because he's my partner in all of this! We pretty much didn't see him for days, except to bring him water, meds and some chicken soup. And now and again he'd try and move downstairs to the couch, only to realize he felt too terrible and back upstairs he'd go.

Then, three of the boys got pink eye. Awesome.

Then, just when Chris was feeling on the upswing, and I was giddily looking forward to things going back to normal, Owen went down for the count. Cue, a series of sleepless nights, for both Owen and I. I felt so bad for him, he just couldn't breath with all the congestion and couldn't settle due to the fever. It's so hard to see your baby sick.

I kept trying to remind myself over and over, "This too shall pass, this too shall pass, this too shall pass...." And even though it felt like the never ending bug, by Saturday everyone was feeling so much better and the weather was gorgeous! The best weather we've had in Michigan so far. I can't even express how wonderful it felt to be outdoors in the sunshine and warm breeze, enjoying time together.

Tell me I'm not the only one who's driveway looks like this on a warm day? 

How far you've come, my babies

So here's the deal. I realized that I have A LOT of posts that were written but for whatever reason, never published. I'm pretty sure that I got distracted by the kids and forgot. So I thought, in the spirit of "Throwback Thursday", that I would actually hit, "publish" on some of these. Each Thursday, if I can remember :), I'm going to publish a post that I wrote sometime in the past.

This post, was written late last fall and I happened upon it today in my draft folder. I saw the title and thought, "Hmmm, wonder what this is about." It's timely for me to stumble upon it, because the triplets will TURN FOUR ON SUNDAY! I'm feeling all kinds of sentimental this week! 

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Carter, Finley, Everett, Owen and I stayed in our pajamas most of the day today, right up until it was time to pick Colin up from school. It was awesome!

Usually, we do something on Tuesdays, either out and about in the community or meeting up with friends. But today, we decided to stay put and it was so refreshing. We played, we did finger painting, beading, play-doh, coloring, reading and watched some episodes of Inspector Gadget while eating grapes and mini pizzas. I'm so happy that we chose not to send the trips to school this year and can enjoy days like these. For our family and our situation, getting this extra time with them before they start formal school was the right decision.

Still......Some days??

Some days I feel so overwhelmed by the immensity of raising these little people! I love them more than anything, and also..... they drive me bonkers sometimes. Sometimes, I feel so overstimulated by the noise, the toys everywhere, the constant truck and construction sounds they make while playing, the fighting, the whining, the crawling all over me......

It can all feel so hard. 

Then last night, long after the boys had finally fallen asleep, I was rummaging through a desk drawer looking for, of all random things, a bookmark. Instead, I stumbled upon this photo:

It's the first ultrasound we had of the triplets, when we learned, to our shock, that we were expecting triplets.

The picture stopped me in my tracks and I stood there thinking,

"That's Carter, Everett and Finn. That's Carter, Everett and Finn!" It seems so funny and amazing that it's actually THEM in there. Because at the time, of course, we never could have pictured who they would be, their funny, unique personalities, lively spirits and amazing laughs. 

At the time of this ultrasound I was in shock and worried. I wondered, "Would they be okay? How premature would they be? Would they be healthy? Would Colin be okay with three babies joining our family at once? Would we be able to handle three babies arriving at once??" There was so much unknown and so much to worry about, it seemed. 

I wish I could go back to this ultrasound day and tell the me laying on that table wide eyed and scared that, "This is going to be so fine. One day these little blips on that screen are going to be healthy, loud, independence seeking, non-stop talking, whining, active three and a half year olds. They along with their brothers, will be driving you bonkers with construction noises and exuberant play, on a daily basis." That would have been music to my ears. It still is really.... I just forget sometimes how far we've come together.

I think God knew I needed that reminder last night. 

It was THAT kind of day....

This is a picture of me that I took just after I finally put the triplets down to bed.

Just look at me. Wearing stretch pants and a tank top that has been stretched out by little arms (stronger than you'd think!). It's had noses and tears wiped on it. There are also bits of breakfast, lunch and dinner on that shirt. My hair = not even brushed today + pulled numerous times. Carter thinks that pulling my hair is the newest, most hilarious trick around. I feel like I've gone 12 rounds in a boxing ring.

Other things to note in that picture. The toilet paper in the sink. Quickly unraveled by someone before bath. So I just threw the unraveled roll into the sink! Also, notice the shower curtain folded up? Carter thought peek a boo in the bath was a brilliant idea. It was. But then Everett and Finn literally jumped on the idea and I was sure the whole curtain + rod was going to come down. Once I pried 30 little fingers off of the curtain (not so easy), I decided to get it out of the way.

This day could be summed up as kids- 4, mom- 0.

Here is a picture of Everett that I managed to take with my phone that also kind of sums up the day.

Caught red handed

I'd left the room for literally only a few seconds to put out another fire in the playroom. When I returned, Everett had climbed up onto the kitchen table and was pulling out flowers from the vase! These kids are fast, curious and seemingly unstoppable in their quests! I'm no match! I just can't keep up with all of them.

This morning I took the four boys outside, and in thinking ahead, I placed a bunch of really cool toys that we don't play with much onto the lawn. Novelty + interesting toys= fun outside. Right? Well maybe not. As it turns out, one boy wanted only to pluck the buds off flowers and eat them, another wanted to play in an empty flower pot that was filled with disgusting rain water and yet another thought putting wood chips in their mouth was the most interesting option out there.

Back inside we went.

Everyone, including myself, was in tears. (well, not Colin. He was just disappointed that he couldn't finish "mowing the lawn") Luckily, he got time for that later, with Chris.

I love being a mom. I love my boys more than anything in this world.

But man, motherhood is tough sometimes. Sometimes you end the day looking and feeling like you've gone 12 rounds in the ring.

Some days I feel under qualified and underpaid.

Lucky my employers are so stinkin' cute. They woo me back to the job every morning and always give me another shot to get it right.