Lucky Me!

Watching the little ones play. Maddie in pink, Jon in green, Ben in blue. These photos were taken over a 2 minute period and explain why it is so hard to get them still enough to be in the same picture. . . .busy, busy, busy, but so much fun!

Here are the layouts I created for a class at Chasing Rainbows this month. It was fun creating with the St. Patrick's Day papers just because that is not something I would normally use. I love how they turned out, and it really reminded me how lucky I am.
Here are some Easter and spring layouts I created for the same class.

One, two, buckle our shoes

Well, I forgot to wear green for St. Patrick's Day, but I'm not Irish either, so who cares? But since this seems to be the day most associated with Luck, I've had all day to think about how lucky I am. Luck is fortune: the overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens). Although I guess I could say I am "lucky", I really feel like "blessed" is a better word to describe my life. Enough on that subject.

The day started with Will taking a short trip to the dentist for a little filling in a cavity. Then the kids and I met my Dad for lunch. Will went with Granddad for a week of fun and adventures, and the little kids and I headed home. It was so hard to beep good-bye to Will as he and Granddad drove west and I turned to the east. Nope, it doesn't really get easier as he gets older. . .or more ornery. I'll miss that little squirt, but it's just for a few days, and I know he will have a blast.

We took a detour to a shoe store and got Ben and Maddie their first pairs of shoes. Jon didn't get any because he isn't walking yet. Don't tell me that isn't fair. . . we aren't going to spend $45 on a pair of shoes if he doesn't need them. When he is walking he will get some Mommy time on a Saturday and we'll go get his pair.

We started with Maddie & measured her foot. Maddie is gernerally a very joyful little girl who likes to stand and walk, but when I set her on her feet over the foot-measuring tool, her legs both went straight out (like she's sitting, but she only has air under her tush.) I wish my abs could do that. When the lady tried moving her feet to the tool, she would move her legs to the side (still perpendicular to her body). After a little dance, we finally got her measured, and she started trying on shoes. As soon as the first one went on, our happy little sunshine girl WAILED! Yes, LOUD, not a cry, but an awful scream that turned all the heads in the shop! We finally found a pair that she didn't scream about, but she was still pretty cranky. They were the best fit, and I liked them the most. How did we get her to quit screaming? We stood her in front of one of those shoe mirrors that was the perfect height for her. She stood there smiling at her pretty little self with both hands on her hips. Then we got Ben out and repeated the process. I have never had so much trouble getting shoes on a kid. It took three of us to hold that busy little boy long enough for a professional to get a shoe on him. He wasn't wailing, but he was so squirmy all over. He really seemed to have fun giving me a hard time -- curling his toes so the shoe wouldn't go on, acting calm then pulling his leg back really fast after I got one almost on, turning upside down in my lap. Since we went to a real shoe store, as opposed to one in a mall or department store, the people there were very helpful and extremely patient with our crew. The kids were all very well behaved for the most part. . . .and after we picked out Ben's shoes, Maddie was still smiling in the mirror and pointing at herself.

Now we are home and the triplets are running around using up all that stored energy. Ben got his shoes off pretty quickly since I haven't installed the tie-keeper.

I can't believe I LIKE reality shows

Last night we HAD to get the kids out of the house. Well, let me rephrase that. . .I had to get out . I am starting to get cabin fever, but probably only because the weather is so pretty and since Will's school has spring break this week, we haven't gotten out. The tree grinder was going so we could not just play in the yard. Allen and I packed up the little ones in the circus train, and Will took his trike and we started walking. We got about 100 feet from the house and Jon spewed so we went home. Not to fret, Allen and Jon got cleaned up and changed, Jon smiled, so we were back to our trek. Our neighborhood has a pretty little green belt and sidewalk that meanders through the middle, sort of in the backyards of a lot of houses. The nice thing about it is that I can let Will go ahead of us on the sidewalk since there are no cars to worry about. So we traversed the path to the playground and waved at the couple barbequing (that smelled great!), we said hi to the dad and his two young sons walking the same trail, we watched a dog prance his fence line looking for someone to play fetch, we watched two girls jumping on a trampoline and two other girls walking in barefeet. We stopped at the playground and Ben, Maddie, and Jon and I played in the grass while Allen helped Will climb and swing to get rid of some excess energy (Someone please explain why a 4-year old without a nap seems to have more energy that a well-rested one.) Then we went back home, but this time on the street for a change of scenery. We stopped and chatted with some neighbors and looked at the trees that were still standing.


When we got home, we got the kids in bed and cleaned up the kitchen. Usually that is done right after dinner, but we wanted to enjoy the day while we could still see. And then, GASP, I sat down to find out who in the top twelve was eliminated from American Idol. For some reason it bugs me that I like that show. . .that I am apparently addicted to it. I can actually live with out the results show and look the eliminated ones up online, but I really do like watching the show when they are singing. Unfortunately, the other show I am addicted to starts Monday -- I am hooked on Dancing with the Stars. Ever since my aunt watched one when we were visiting my parents, and Heather Mills fascinated me by dancing with a presthetic leg, I've been hooked. This season will prove to be just as fascinating -- Marlee Matlin is one of the contestants and since she is deaf, she will only be able to feel the beat of the music. So now that I have admitted that I have a silly addiction, I can start the 12 step program, right? For Americal Idol, I vow to take one step per week toward eliminating the habit. . .Number 11 eliminated next week, then 10, 9, . . .hey, I should be over it right about the time they announce the winner!! And on DWTS, they are doing a double elimination the first week, so. . .hmmm. . .that will be over about the same time. I can do it! Yes I can!!

The view of the forest

What are they so excited to be watching?
On the other side of our backyard fence, this is what is happening. There used to be a "forest" here. In the last month, almost every tree has been removed and now it looks ugly. Instead of the scent of pine, we smell diesel. Instead of green trees, we see a chain link fence and the back of the city recycling center. It's not pretty. Will keeps asking me what God is going to do about it (because He made the trees and the machines knocked them down.) On the upside, that means we'll have neighbors in a few months. There are supposedly three lots that are in this space being cleared. Maybe the view will be better when homes & fences block the view of the city and road. Maybe they will plant new trees.

How are my kids supposed to nap with all this noise? How am I suppose to relax when I am wondering if that tree disposer is going to fling shrapnel through our window? I took the kids outside to swing and play for a little while, then these folks moved in and ruined our peace. I brought the kids and dog in because this machine does throw trees. I am sure these people do this everyday and know how to do it safely, but please pray this will all be over soon and our home and family will not be hurt. I knew when we moved into a new neighborhood that as it was built around us, we would have construction noise, but I hadn't anticipate this scale of racket.

Allen asked me why I hadn't blogged lately, and my answer was that I often write when Will is at school and the babies are napping. Since they all had been sick, Will wasn't in school & the babies weren't napping. It was difficult to get any time to myself, and when I did, I needed to do all the busy work -- laundry, dinner, napping. Last Sunday, Randy, Jason, and Allen went skeet shooting while Shelley and the kids napped, and Jenn and I ran around town. We all had a wonderful dinner at Texas Roadhouse, and Allen tried embarrassing all of us as he danced on the birthday saddle at the restaurant. It was a tasty meal and it was fun to share it with family. The kids are feeling much better, but Jon is still coughing enough that he throws up at least once a day, thus, adding at least one load of unplanned laundry to each day. The poor guy is having problems sleeping, too, but he is having fun during the day, so I know he will be better soon. Last night we celebrated Allen's birthday with a home cooked meal -- he and I tried our hand at fried chicken breasts with mashed potatoes. We had recently seen a Good Eats episode where Alton Brown described how to make the perfect fried chicken; although we didn't make it using his exact recipe, we did use his methods, and it was VERY tasty. We ended the meal with Allen opening his cards and gifts and we all enjoyed Tres Leches cake. Happy Birthday, Babe!!

Today is a beautiful, sunny 73-degree day & I wish we could all be outside. Instead, we can only open the windows to bring the fresh air in while we stay away from the Snorts* out there.

* In the children's book "Are you my Mother?" by PD Eastman, the baby bird calls a power shovel a Snort. That's what it gets called in this house, too.

Note to self. . .

. . . before it slips my mind. New words this week:
Ben tells me when he wants to go "ni-ni" (night-night)
Maddie likes to play "tatty-kay" (pat-a-cake)
Jon enjoys eating "na-nana"(banana)

This morning, I was about to change Maddie's diaper and she held her nose, nodded, and told me she was "dinkdy". . .but she wasn't. She just likes the sound of "stinky".

Body parts the three know, cumulatively: nose, mouth, eye, head, ear, teeth, tongue, hair, hand

Tooth count: Ben (8), Maddie (6), Jon (6).

Yesterday, Ben was weighed at the pediatrician's office and is 19 pounds, 4 ounces, age 16.5 months (adjusted age is about 13.5 months). He is the heaviest of the three, but not by much.

The view from the staircase

Here is the view as I sat at the top of the stairs this morning. It is a cold, wet, gloomy day. I am glad it's warm inside & I made it cozier by lighting some scented candles. It is very muddy since it rained or snowed all night. The snow didn't stick around much, but Will was excited to see it falling. I overheard him asking Allen, "What is that? It's the same color as snow. Does that mean it IS snow?"

Jon and Ben are still sick, but Ben was playing this morning, so maybe he is starting to feel better. Jon threw up all over the carpet. While I was tending to Jon and trying to keep him out of the mess until he was done, Ben got out the gate and Will started getting in trouble in the kitchen. All at the same time, and after 5 days of sick, cranky kids, I am getting frazzled. I have to keep my cool just a few more hours, then Allen will be home. Things seem so much easier for me when he is around. Partly because he is so helpful, and partly because I am a lot more calm and collected in his presence.

Allen's family is coming this weekend and we plan to just have a relaxed weekend. My mother-in-law offered to keep the kids on Sunday so I can get out for a little while (the guys all plan to shoot skeet). I had planned to stick around the house with Shelley and Jenn and the kids, but after this week, I think I'll need to get away at least for a short while. Maybe the kids will all be feeling great, and we can all just escape. . . .or maybe I should try to get some time away from being Mommy. . . .we'll see how it all works out.

Although it's been a rough week with all the kids being sick, I managed to find a little time to create. Since Ben & Jon were the sickest, I guess I wanted to see them smiling even if it was just in the pictures. I decided on one layout for the photos from when they turned 6 months, then I only changed it a little when I created the second layout. (You've already seen the layout of Maddie on the same day.) As I was neatening the office, I found the advent calendar I made in December. I made it after Christmas, so we didn't use it yet. . .I can't wait to fill the little drawers with little goodies for next Christmas, though.

The babies are sleeping their morning nap right now, and the carpet has been cleaned. Now I will collect my thoughts, take ten deep breaths, and see if Will is ready to paint his paper mache bowl we made earlier this week. Have a great weekend!

Mama, you can do anything!

Last Thursday, I kept Will home from school because he was a bit feverish and had a nasty-sounding cough. Yes, I am over-protective -- I don't want other parents bringing sick kids to school, so I won't. He "cold" progressed slowly at first and not much changed Thursday. Friday, he still felt warm to me and he was still coughing. Friday night he was up a lot and definitely had a fever and complained that his throat hurt every time he coughed, which was about 3 times a minute. . .all night. Sunday, the babies were getting feverish then the coughing started. Monday, I called the pediatrician and he said to just bring Will in and he'd treat all four for whatever Will had. That was quite a blessing, not having 4 office visits and co-pays to cover, and only having to take one inside instead of 4. Well, he said it was nothing major and we'd just have to wait it out. Ben has been the worst of the bunch -- feverish, can't quit coughing, and his eyes look so sick (puffy, dark circles, gunk, etc.)He cried all day yesterday, and so far most of today. The whiney, pitiful cry that says "Mom, I feel awful. Why?" It breaks my heart when my kiddos are sick. Yesterday I rocked him most of the day and at least got the crying down to a slight whimper. I was holding him while I did what I could to make dinner, and while I held Ben in my left arm, I stood stirring a sauce, while debating whether to put him down to start noodles or just wait till Allen got home to help. Will wanted me to color with him on the floor, and here's how that conversation played out:
Mama, you wanna color with me? Huh?
Honey, maybe later. I am pretty busy right now.
But, Mama. You can do ANYTHING! You are a GENIUS!
I had to walk out of the kitchen so Will wouldn't notice me chuckling. After trying to clean house, do laundry, cook dinner, educate my kids, work in a little personal time, all while dealing calmly with 4 sick kids, my four-year-old put words to the feelings I had all day. Somehow I DID manage to get things done yesterday amidst the chaos, snot, and tears. It felt good.

Today, my nerves a bit more frazzled. I've had Ben and Jon both crying most of the day. They want to be held, but they don't want to share Mama's lap. I can usually fit one on each side with their heads cradled by my shoulder. The crusty spots on my shirt will show you I've been holding them a lot. When both boys are settled and I am comfortable, Maddie wants to be held, too. So I try to make room in the middle for her, but then it's just too crowded. When she's happy, the boys start to wail, and that's when Will needs my attention, too. Now they are all four resting for a little while this afternoon. I get a few minutes to organize my thoughts. I get to write down the exciting events of the week, and can only think of all the boogers and tears, and how much I am blessed to get to be the one that can make them feel just a little better. I only wish I had the super-powers to heal them, but praying is all I can do for now. So if you are still reading, please say a little prayer that my little ones will heal quickly and fill our home with laughter again. I know God will take care of us, but sometimes I feel like I have to remind Him. . .or at least remind myself.