Morton Mayhem

Our first family Vacation

2011-07-21T22:15:00.000-07:00

So we have done it. We actually went on and survived our first family vacation (that wasn't to familys houses) since the triplets where born.

We went up to Kimberley to stay in our friends condo. It was awesome. The 6 hour drive consisted of Luke pointing out every cow, horse and bird along the way. Seriously the kid didn't sleep so we got a recap of all the animals, if there wasn't animals around then we were informed of every truck that went by. Taylor kept asking when will we be there and commenting on the fact that we were in the mountains, then asking if we were still in the mountains. Livie tried to escape her car seat the whole drive and when daddy actually wired the clip shut she screamed the rest of the way. Darling sweet Sophie is my favorite traveller, she played quietly with her baby and ate her snacks.

On the way home we stopped at the Radium Hotsprings, where I was reminded that it doesn't matter how bad you look in your swimming suit. Some tourist is going to have an outfit/swimsuit combo that makes you look like a model. I kid you not.

It was nice to be able to go on a vacation with our kids, it was a reminder of how far we have come in 3 years. We were able to go on walks with out the wagon or the stroller, look in shops, go swimming with just the 6 of us. Spent time listening to our kids babble (and they babble a lot), and just kick back and relax and enjoy one another.

Oh How I have negelegted you

2011-03-30T22:48:00.001-07:00

Never fear I am on my way back with more mayhem stories of potty training and such! Stayed tuned.

Confessions

2010-05-22T22:57:00.000-07:00

Confession Time...I buy boxes of Tim Bits and eat the ones I like and feed the cast off ones to my kids. Terrible I know, okay maybe not terrible but definitely selfish.

Confession...I am pleasantly plumper then I want to be cause I pick food off my kids plate. (seriously the food they drop on the floor could feed a small country in Africa...so why waste perfectly good food that is still on the plate)

Confession...I often say yes with out realising what I have said yes to just to get a darling 4 year old out of my hair. I should really start paying more attention to what she is saying cause one day its going to come back to haunt me

Confession... I dance around like an idiot dancing to songs on play list.

Confession... I still think I am a great dancer even though the looks four kids are giving me tells me otherwise.

Confession...I often feel like I am living a life that isn't my own...hahahahaha oh right I have 4 kids, it isn't my own life

Confession... I love staying up far to late, Yet when I can drag myself out of bed I love the early morning

Confession...Smells Like Teen Spirit is playing on my play list

Confession...I prefer to eat fruit loops over any "adult" type cereal

Confession...I love living with the chaos of kids (most days)

Confession... I love having people over

Confession...I still think that if i wish hard enough and dream the dream that one day I will have the body I had in High School

Confession...I love being a mom, though some days it pushes me the the very edge of sanity

Confession...I have an awesome circle of friends...and I was lucky enough to have it grow after henfest 2010 (a blog post on this is coming soon)

Confession...I love to organize things and people to get stuff done

Confession...My 4 year old has suddenly become a big moral compass in my life especially when she decided that some had to be "nice first, mom" and went and talked to our neighbor.

Confession...I had the best night with Taylor tonight...I really took the time to stop and listen and play and have her help get stuff ready for tomorrow.

-Michelle

My kids...and Jace

2010-04-29T23:04:00.000-07:00

Sophie, Luke, Taylor, Livie, and Jace (sitting on Taylor)

So its been awhile since I posted about my kids. Their personalities have been changing so much lately so I thought I would make lists about each one.

Taylor:
1. She loves being a big sister
2. She has become super independent
3. She talks about is going to school next year (this gives me mixed feelings)
4. She loves to play with her friends
5. She likes to pretend to be Laura from Little House on the Prairie
6. She tells us every day that Luke needs a brother
7. She has this weird love for all things ladybug
8. She wants to live at the zoo when she is old and make money having cows
9. She loves to watch movies about cow c-sections (i know she is odd)
10. She is already asking about camping and sleeping on the trampoline

Livie:
1. She should never be underestimated because she is small (she is very feisty)
2. She loves to eat, especially yogurt, toast, and cheese
3. She has the funniest laugh
4. She like to be the boss
5. She thinks its funny to hide in the TV stand and scare her siblings
6. She also thinks its funny to hide their favorite toys
7. She is super independent
8. She loves to try and put on her own shoes
9. She always pulls one arm out of her shirt and put it through the neck hole
10. She loves to spin in circles

Luke:
1. He has found a love for trains and tractors
2. He thinks its funny to throw his food off his tray then steal his sisters food and eat it while they cry.
3. He will do anything to escape the house and get out side
4. He climbs up on the stool next to the sink and eats the dish soap bubbles (so gross)
5. He hates bugs
6. He loves to cuddle and and give kisses
7. He can systematically empty the toys from the living room into my kitchen
8. He loves to jump on the trampoline
9. He loves the playground and climbing on all the equipment
10. He thinks its funny to sit on his sisters

Sophie:
1. She loves Corb Lund and loves to dance to him
2. She is my cuddliest child
3. She always has a book in her hand
4. She loves dolls
5. She loves to wear dresses
6. She is my peace keeper
7. She always tries to give hugs to everyone
8. She plays shy with most people
9. She loves Taylor
10. She loves to give kisses

Jace (my darling sweet nephew):

We love him tons and need to see him a bunch more!!!

-Michelle

Heather!

2010-04-24T22:00:00.000-07:00

So this is Heather (aka Hatter)...Oh how we have missed her. Heather has left us to further her education, somehow she thought she could replace all of the kids that love her by taking a band class. LOL.

We love Heather, Taylor will tell you she is her best friend (but has decided its okay to share Hatter with Raygan), Livie, Luke and Sophie will say the miss the extra cuddles, and I will say that I miss all the extra help and her great personality.

I have decided the best way to describe Heather is in a series of Lists...so here we go.

Reasons we miss Heather:

1. Taylor misses her truck
2. I miss having another adult to talk to during the day
3. Triplets miss all the extra cuddles
4. No more preschool
5. Yummy cookie monster cookies
6. All the extra help (seriously she is amazing)

Reasons Heather May not miss us:

1. Cleaning up Sophies mess (heather will know what this means)
2. The 4 hours it takes to clean out the high chairs and sweep the floor
3. Taylor deciding to be mad at her for the day
4. 4 needy kids and a strange mom
5. Her days are no longer filled with changing diapers and wiping faces

Funniest things found on Heathers I Pod (Must admit I love the variation):

1. Linda Ronstadt (need I say more)
2. The Moffets (thanks for the flash back)
3. Cat in the Car
4. Bill Cosby
5. The last Saskatchewan Pirate
6. Humgumbagumagba (No I am not making it up this is a song title of a song on her I Pod)

Why we love Heather:

1. She love our kids
2. She is so funny
3. Very understanding
4. Helps me regain my sanity
5. Is willing to play the camera game
6. can watch Mary Poppins and Pete's Dragon with Taylor and not fall asleep
7. She is so patient with all of us
8. Her truck - Taylor loves Heathers truck(even though it almost ran me over without a driver being in it)
9. She takes teasing really well
10. She understands me and my oddities which makes me feel all the more at ease

Heather we miss you and hope that you are enjoying school. Taylor has already written you a four page letter so be prepared for a fat envelope coming soon. Thanks for all your help, and know that Taylor is already counting the days till you come back.

Finally

2010-04-21T08:59:00.000-07:00

So after 3 weeks of kids being sick we have finally gotten over it!!! YAY. Also I am happy to report I was able to give my talk on sunday with out passing out and only a few more tears then should have been appropriate.

5 minutes

2010-04-09T17:37:00.001-07:00

this is what my living room looks like in 5 minutes of unsupervised play.

Hacking

2010-04-09T17:11:00.001-07:00

My poor kids are now going onto week 2 of being sick. We have had pink eye, double ear infections, noses that run consistently, super hacky coughs and croaky voices. Throw in teething and fevers just for fun and it pretty much sums up our house. I am so ready for what has infected this house to get and and leave.

My 1st 'MooN'light Run!

2010-03-24T21:58:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday I participated in my 1st moonlight run...well I may have just taken the name of the run a tad bit seriously. No word of a lie 300 people saw more of my back end then anyone should see.

Any one who knows me was not surprised to find out such an odd and embarrassing moment would happen to me...for my life has been full of odd and embarrassing moments.

Lets start this odd and embarrassing story from the beginning...

1. Daring someone to wear BRIGHT YELLOW pants during the run often results in you to wearing BRIGHT YELLOW pants.

2. Dressing in the van...well I am not 12 anymore and I have 5 car seats in said van...enough said!

3. Wearing glow sticks attached to toque makes the yellow pants you are wearing that much more noticeable.

4. Love Dancing around to my music waiting for run to start

5. Getting caught up in music which leads to forgetting to tighten up BRIGHT YELLOW pants leads to odd and embarrassing moments

6. Playing human frogger fun idea...not a fun idea with pants around knees

7. Getting pointed and laughed at as an adult a tad bit funnier then when younger

8. Beating dumb college kids that pointed and laughed at poor girl with BRIGHT YELLOW pants around her knees up the hill very satisfying!

If the list did not make my awkward experience apparent I'll break it down for you. If you want the back story about the yellow pants then that is a whole other post. Which you will get at a later date.

I am nervously waiting to start my 1st run not tied to a triathlon, having a great time dancing around to make music, making random conversations at a loud volume to be heard over all of our music and trying not to think about how bad i have to pee (dang nerves), and if I was really going to run up the huge hill and before i know it the signal to start running goes.

I am doing great, start running, feeling like I am in a pack of stampeding cattle and waiting for the crowed to thin a bit. I get to the top of the hill and start heading down, when all of a sudden I feel BRIGHT YELLOW pants sliding down. I tug at them to pull them up, and being grateful for my running shorts that I have underneath. I keep on running not missing a beat, pants start to slide again, tug them up again. I start thinking okay when i get to the bottom and we are not all so bunched up I will stop and pull up and cinch up my pants and continue with the run.
When all of a sudden my BRIGHT YELLOW pants are around my knees. Oh freaking Crap, so trying to to trip and stumble I lean slightly forward to grab my BRIGHT YELLOW pants and as I lean over my running shorts slight further off my butt. So be the graceful person I am (not), I am holding the back of my jacket down and running shorts up with one hand and my BRIGHT YELLOW pants up with the other and proceed to try and get over to the side where I can stop and get everything fixed. Then the game of human frogger comes into play as i try to dodge hundreds of runners and not get ran over...while playing human frogger I got pointed at and laughed at my some big dumb college boys ( i know I sound so immature). Get everything fixed and start running again. Had a great moment when passed big dumb college boys on hill.

Moral of the story...even though wearing running shorts up where they belong prior to running may be uncomfortable and not doing up pants tight for same reason...leads to a very odd and embarrassing moment.

-M

Massage

2010-03-17T22:32:00.000-07:00

Yay for me I went and indulged myslef with and hour long massage today. It felt so good. But you know me my mind doesn't ever take a break so I was formulating thoughts which then turned into lists and so here we go another blog that is mostly made up of a list.

1. Does anyone else feel the need to very quickly get undressed and get under the blankets cause you stress out about how soon the lady is comming back?? I do!

2. I am not so fond of massage therpaist that try and have a conversation for the whole duration of the massage...I am trying to relax not make awkward conversation

3. Warm Oil Good---Cold oil me jump 3 inches off table

4. When they ask you to roll over onto your back there is no gracefull way of doing it so you end up with spastic movemets making it all the more awkward

5. When falling asleep on the massage table don't dream about falling cause the jerking action that follows that dream makes the massage therapist jump 3 inches off the ground

6. I love the ring around the face and crazy hair look after massage

7. have you ever noticed that people do not always look oh so pretty leaving the spa...they look relaxed but not oh so pretty

8. 1 hour of selfish time should be perscribed once a month to all women

Well that is that and I am off to bed.

-M

Love this Girl

2010-03-16T17:52:00.003-07:00

enough said!

What was I thinking??

2010-03-09T22:20:00.001-08:00

So people who know me well will be shocked by the following news.

I AM GIVING A TALK IN CHURCH

this takes me so far out of my comfort zone that my stomach hurts already and I still have almost 3 weeks until I talk.

In high school I told my bishop after almost passing out while giving my talk that I would never speak in church again until my brother went on a mission. So unless I missed the memo that my brother was going on a mission...or that my old bishop never attached the memo about me not speaking in church again, I am giving a talk.
And in true Michelle Blogging Form here is my Top 10 reasons why talking in church stresses me out. (this is for you erin)

1. I shake like a leaf and almost get sick when i have to pray in Sacrament
2. I seriously like to get to church early to sit in the back
3. I don't like a lot of people looking at me
4. I almost pass out when i have to look at everyone else
5. I will have hives from the stress of it the morining of.
6. Seriously we are never to church on time (maybe this is a ploy to get us there on time.)
7. I cry
8. I have this huge fear of passing out while people are looking at me.
9. I tend to make awkward jokes thinking its hiding my fear when really its not
10. I invision having to give said talk with Sophie on my hip
11. The topic "Leaning on the Savior" is definatly a topic that will make me cry
12 i don't do well sharing personal experiences with others around me...its hard to do so even with the ones I love let alone the whole ward
13. lets go back to the fact I cry
14. I have this huge fear that i will get done giving my talk and realise that i have a button on my shirt undone, or a big lovely sticky kids hand print on me
15. I will not be able to eat for the next 3 weeks cause i will be worried about throwing it up while giving a talk
16. I really don't like being the center of attention (which has been a huge struggle seeing as I am a mom of triplets and we kinda stick out).

Okay so my list is longer then 10 items and the sad thing is I could keep going. I am sure I will make it through it. If you are from our ward and are reading this post maybe you can all wear blindfolds that day so that its less people looking at me...better yet I should where the blindfold, but that would lead to whole bunch of other complications cause I don't read brail and I can't memorize a whole talk any more....

-Michelle

My Waiting Room List

2010-03-08T17:20:00.000-08:00

Okay generally I go to appointments expecting to wait at least a reasonable amount of time to be seen. I come prepared with snacks, books, toys ect. But today was so out of control. The whole time there I was making lists...What I would rather be doing, my guesses as to why we are still waiting and general observations of people in the waiting room. So here we go you get 3 lists today.

10 things I would rather be doing:

1. keeping my toddler contained at home
2. putting said toddler for a nap
3. cleaning my toilets
4. cleaning someone Else's toilets
5. doing laundry
6. flossing my teeth
7. Sitting in the dentist chair
8. sitting with a full bladder waiting for and ultra sound
9. Sleeping
10. Waiting for any other dr. that seems to have staff that gets the filing system.

10 Guesses to why we are still waiting

1. Some how even though they checked us in our appointment isn't really until the next day and they just think its funny to see how long i will wait for
2. The dr. got abducted by aliens between exam room 1 and 2
3. The secretary just randomly puts files in the waiting to be seen slot
4. The nurses are pulling files from both sides never seeming to get to the 2 files in the middle
5. Said secretary and nurses don't seem to catch on that there is one mom that has been waiting for 2 hours and one for an hour and a half
6. Some how my clock keeps moving and no one elses does
7 Other patients have bribed staff to get in as soon as they walk in the door
8. I am having an outer body experience and decided that sitting in the waiting room would be a great place to have said experience
9. i am being punished---for what i never got that far
10. Maybe i need to learn a lesson in patience ( seriously lesson learned i am the mom of 4 kids 4 and under)

10 General observations

1. People look shocked when they get called in as soon as the get seated, they are expecting a wait that never came (your welcome another mom and I did all the waiting for everyone)
2. I saw a man and wife with the same haircut...right out of the 80's someone forgot to tell them that mullets are not cool
3. First time parents come way over prepared...you will never use a overnight sized diaper bags worth of stuff for one appointment
4. Its a rip off to pay for parking
5. they at least have good books to read in the waiting room
6. there is never enough seats
7. there were 14 cheerios left on the floor by others and Luke found them all
8. I waited 8 times longer then the dr. saw us for
9. luke is the size of most 1 year olds in the office
10. I really hate waiting

YAY for the SuN!

2010-03-04T07:48:00.001-08:00

I am loving spring...It is so nice to wake up and the sun is shining and there isn't the great need to run really fast into my clostet to find the warmest clothes I can find and put them on. The kids are loving it too. Yeasterday afternoon the 3 monkeys played out side on the deck and came and went from the living room to the deck...they love watching the kids at the school play on the school grounds. Taylor is excited to get to pull out the side walk chalk and her bike again.
-M

Dear Nosey Neighbour

2010-02-27T20:02:00.000-08:00

Dear Nosey Neighbour,

Your constant need to watch our every move is getting old, not to mention creepy. I have come to the conclusion that you must lead very boring lives and have no social life if our every coming and going is of such great interest to you.

Half empty beer cans that coincidental match the numerous beer cans in your yard some how seem to jump the fence and get into our yard. I don't need my 4 year old and my 21 month olds exposed to the taste, but thanks for sharing.

We did not bring skunks to the neighbour hood...its called we live 2 blocks from the edge of town...maybe its you dog food that attracted them or the dead animal smell on the back of your truck.

You don't own the street. Your van is always parked so it doesn't affect your drive way but look over it blocks our ability to pull in straight and makes it almost impossible to park 3 cars across like we should be able to with out some crafty driving. P.S. you don't own the road its public property, if your "spot" isn't available to your liking do what the rest of the world does park somewhere else for the night.

Do you have the by law officer on speed dial...if so do they know you by name now or just by the witchy tone in your voice.

Funny thing when you are going to bad mouth me...don't act so shocked that i heard your...your windows where open and face into mine.

Maybe instead of being so interested in my life try paying attention to what you teenage daughter is up to.

-M

so i only wish i had the guts to send this to them, but i won't but it sure nice to blog my letter

a new 10 list...10 things that have happend lately

2010-02-22T12:16:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I blogged about the randomness in my life so once again here is a 10 list.

1. Gary and I are going away this weekend...the first time we have gone anywhere by our selves since Taylor was born

2. Jessa and Jaime may never want to watch our kids again after this weekend

3. Heather Rocks

4. I still hate barf..this was reinforced by 3 21month olds who did this for 3 days and don't understand the to barf on the carpet...couch...chair...or siblings rule. So mom followed them around with the carpet cleaner and many baths

5. Livie loves to look at her self in puddles

6. Livie hates falling in said puddles when she has bent over to far to see herself

7. I am often Hangry (yup you read it right)

8. Luke may have to have surgery (poor boy)

9. Sophie may need glasses

10. My life is still crazy but a ton of fun

Weight loss up date!

2010-02-22T12:14:00.000-08:00

So yeasterday was weigh in and though i wish i had lost more weight, i was still happy with the results. So far I have lost 6 pounds and 2 inches from my waist and my hips and 1 inch off each arm and leg. It did how ever inspire me to push even harder and that is exactly what I did this morning at my workout and my abs and legs are hating me right now.

Stressed

2010-02-16T13:33:00.001-08:00

Yup so this pretty much sums up how things are here. I feel like I am treading water and it never gets easier though on the bright side it doesn't seem to get any harder either. I just wish that I knew what to do to make things easier.

Yikes!

2010-02-11T16:12:00.000-08:00

I fear the terrible twos have hit this house early....not so sure how its going to turn out but I am sure there are going to be great stories to go along with it.

Weight Loss Challenge

2010-02-02T10:55:00.000-08:00

So i am in a weight loss challenge with 4 other friends and I am really enjoying it, I am feeling better, less cranky and have more energy. That being said I am still struggling with it as well so I have decided to take the big step of telling the blogging world what my start weight was so that then Its out there and I will look at it all the time and want it to change so bad that it motivates me to work harder. So here it is 204. I am gringing that i just put that out there...but it is a starting point and I am a work in progress.
-M

I'm not Josie Grossie any more!

2010-01-28T18:36:00.000-08:00

Last night I watched Never Been Kissed. Not a favorite movie but still a good one that I like to watch every now and then. Apparently I was in thoughtful mood though cause in true Michelle fashion I started to think about the statement "I'm not Josie Grossie any more!".

I was never popular in high school and never really felt like I fit in with any "group" at school. I remember feeling super awkward when talking to the "cute" boy or the "popular" girls, you know all those things that teenagers deal with. I don't ever remember totally hating high school I had things that I enjoyed, and a handful of good friends. What else could I ask for.

That being said I remember having the "I am not Josie Grossie any more!" moment in college. Where I realised what everyone else thought of me and the things I thought about myself, didn't matter any more, no one knew me (including my roommates), no one knew my past, my family whether I was popular or not in high school, Once I realised that none of that mattered any more and that i was no longer Josie Grossie, I loved college, people got to know what I would call the "real" me, the me that no one knew in high school cause we had all gone to school together for so long that you kind of get stuck in a mold of being one kind of person and never really allowed the option to move out of that mold. I found out that I am funny/witty (or at least I think that I am), I am smarter than I thought, I enjoy going out with friends, and not worrying about what people may think, that I am fine living so far from home.

As time has kept moving on I have realised that lately I have been going through another Josie Grossie moment. I feel like I have been stuck in this rut of being a frumpy house wife, seems like i always have a dirty shirt on (can you blame me though), i feel out of place in large gatherings, and find my self with drawing, and not being super social. Well I am here to to tell you "I am not Josie Grossie any more!"

I have started a total "re-purposing" myself year. I joined a total weight loss challenge, I am a big fan of "fly lady" and find that this is helping me get my house and life more organized. I am trying not to focus on the things I don't like about myself and trying to make changes in my life that better me as a person. I am taking more time for my self (even if that means i get up and go to the gym at 5 am just to ensure i get there ...thanx Danielle for making it fun), and I am making myself do things that sometimes take me out of my comfort zone all in pursuit of better me as a person, mother, wife, friend ect.

I am trying everyday to find Joy in my Journey and sometimes I remind myself of that on an hourly basis, but I am finding that I am loving my life more and more and I am finding out things once again about myself that I never knew before. I know that as things change in my life there will be times I will need to remind myself that "I'm not Josie Grossie any more", but when that day comes I will adjust and embrace what needs to be embraced at that time.

So for know I will confidently say " I AM NOT JOSIE GROSSIE ANY MORE!"

-M

Family Fun Night

2010-01-16T19:03:00.000-08:00

Taylor got to pick what we were doing for our family fun activity today. What did she choose?well after all the options given to her (skating, park, walk, going to the city to the zoo ect.) she told me she wanted to go to the car wash as a family. Yup that's right after all the options presented to her she choose that...oh lets not forget we had to get Slurpee's and drink them while at the car wash.

Gary was at work today so after the triplets woke up from there nap I loaded the kids up and headed for the car wash. We ended up waiting in line for 45 minutes to get into the car wash, thank goodness for the DVD player in my van and an episode of Little House on the Prairie, or we may have had a major melt down. We finally get into the car wash and Taylor was so excited laughing giggling ect. But when the water got to the back of the van we had a fantastic display of 3 melting down 18 mos. olds. Sophie was so scared she was doing her crying that she does when she is in the swing at the park and was starting to turn purple from being so scared (so not joking she does it on the swings to and it looks like she is having a fit of some sort). Poor Luke had the most shocked and scared look on his face and his bottom lip started to tremble then he let out the saddest cry i have ever heard. Livie was in the middle of the two of them and she was holding each of there hands and her whole body was shaking and she had tears rolling down her cheek. It was the longest 3.5 minutes of there poor little lives I am sure. It was more traumatizing then getting there shots.

So as much fun as family fun activity was meant to be only Taylor had a good time...next week mom gets to pick.
-M

Snow where are you

2010-01-15T19:17:00.001-08:00

Its only the middle on January and it already feels like spring and I am kind of missing the snow. Now before you all think that I have taken a leave of my senses let me explain. We didn't really get very much snow until right before Christmas and it was super cold and I was super busy getting ready for christmas. Now that I have recovered from Christmas and I am gearing up to enjoy sledding and skating, snow angels and snowmen, the snow is disappering. I am so hoping that we get a little bit more winter before its spring.

The Hockey Game

2010-01-11T23:51:00.001-08:00

Tonight Gary and I were lucky enough to get to go to the Flames game (thanks Johnson Family), this was a BRAND new experience for me. I had never been to an NHL game before and to be honest it was the first hockey game I had been to since college that involved a very long ride to Vegerville on bad roads.
For those of you who read my blog regularly I am big on lists to get my opinions and thoughts across so staying true to form here is my break down of the night

1. I hate C-trains and as I am getting on the only thing I can think of is the line from All about Steve Where she says she suffers from "acute benign vertigo" as she is getting on the bus...that and how many people have touched the rails (gross I may just need to take a blogging break to sanitize my hands again)

2. Should have dressed a tad bit warmer...slightly chilly in the arena

3. It was armed forces appreciation night so that was really cool

4. Why is all the fighting done in the first period then really no fighting after that. Seriously the first fight was 30 seconds into the game.

5. Love the smell of beer and stale cigarette smoke...NOT

6. for some reason the camera at the end of the arena that follows the puck was very amusing to me

7. Those poor girls that in short shorts shoveling snow in front of the nets pretty sad they get almost as many cheers as the players (just putting it out there)

8. I wonder if the players and the refs ever get frustrated by having to wait for some of the extra audience participation stuff to be done before continuing with the game

9. Thought the whole experience was really cool/

10. Why do teams no longer shake hands at the end of the game...what ever happened to sportsmanship

11. why did one night bring on so many questions

12. the Good Ole Hockey game songs still makes me giggle LOVE the song...had forgotten all about it.

13. Did I mention I hat c-trains...getting that close and intimate with strangers kinda creeps me out

14. Food at hockey games smells wonderful...to bad none of it is in my diet right now

15. It was a date night out with my Husband.

-M-

Wow are they really that old???

2010-01-09T20:21:00.000-08:00

Tommorow will be the Triplets first day of Nursery. It is a huge sense of relief but a very sad moment for me. They can't be that old yet. And poor Livie seriously still wears 6-9 months size clothes she is going to look sooooo tiny in there.

Weight Loss Challenge

2010-01-06T22:56:00.001-08:00

So apparently I am a sucker for punishement. I am taking part in the Target Fittness Weight Loss Challenge. I am on a team of 5 fun girls and we are determined to get in shape...and really winning wouldn't be so bad. But here is the kicker I am commited my self to being up and at the Gym every morning at 5am....what the crap was I thinking. I am an ultimate night owl and not the greatest morning person...but I will be doing it, and trying to put a smile on my face while being there dreaming dreams of my nice warm and cozy bed. Wish me luck

Happy Trails...or not so much???

2009-12-12T17:03:00.000-08:00

This CD is a much loved CD in this house...that is all but one song of it. Ever since we had the CD when ever it gets to the song Happy Trail To You song Taylor will break down and start crying like the end of the world has come. She will seriously go from giggling, laughing and dancing around to crumbling into sobs. At first I thought it was just a phase but here we are two years later and the same thing happens everytime with out fail.

-M-

The Birthday Girl...

2009-12-10T16:55:00.000-08:00

Well Danielle may not be oh so Impressed with this lovely picture of her...but really what does she expect...it is from Halloween and if you are not a willing participant then the bad picture is the one you get but up. Anyways Happy Birthday Danielle!

Work Christmas Parties

2009-12-03T11:14:00.000-08:00

So Friday is Garys work Christmas party and I am SOOOOO not looking forward to it. I don't know why...Its just hard for me to be out of my comfort zone and have to mingle with people I only meet once a year. Also there is always the pressing issue of what to wear...you don't want to be under dressed - but you don't want to be over dressed. Then there is having to come up with witty awkward conversation. I always feel highly out of place. Don't get me wrong I am excited to get to go out with my Husband on a free date night...just not looking forward to the awkwardness.

Oh the tale of one shaved leg...

2009-11-30T09:42:00.000-08:00

There is nothing worse then one shaved leg...but lately that seems to be my fate. It never fails that as soon as I get into the shower...the shaving cream on my leg and almost done one leg that there is a "tragedy" of some sort that pulls me from hairless bliss. So I quickly finish the leg i am doing and rinse off quick and go deal with lifes ups and downs of 1 preschooler and 3 toddlers. To make the tale of one shaved leg worse...there is nothing like going to the pool with your daughter and you haven't remembered that only one leg is shaved till you are standing there slightly uncomfortable with the fact that you are going out in public in swimming suit in a post baby body, but then to look down and realise that your one leg is hairless and the other looks like some bushwomans leg that has been neglected for a while. Which then leads me to wonder...Did I really not get to shaving the same leg twice in a row. Dang mommy brain.
-m

oh poop!

2009-11-23T20:39:00.000-08:00

Sorry guys this is a gross post involving the word poop and a lot of it. I hate poop...from past posts you will have noted that I have issues with toilets ect. Well this is way grosser then toilets.

I have a friend that has had poop issues with her kids and I was always supremely grossed out by it. I always hoped and prayed that we wouldn't have the same issues. But leave it to Sophie to push those limits. She has this awful fascination with her poop. There are times that when i go and get her from her crib she is covered in poop and poor Livie is too because that is one of the downfalls of co-bedding (that and being puked on). It is so gross and I am told not to make a huge issue of it because it will become a harder habit to break. But it is seriously gross on many different levels and there are times that I do want to yell and scream and cry cause poop is gross.

Today Sophie pushed my limits to far. I could hear Livie freaking out...and went down to the babies room and found Sophie pulling poop out of Livies diaper and Livie freaking out.

Seriously what a disgusting habit. Almost puked i am not going to lie.
Michelle

YIKES!!!!

2009-11-22T15:02:00.001-08:00

So I have have lived in this delusional world that I would be able to keep the triplets in their cribs for at least another six months...but atlas those thoughts have quickly been dashed.

I went down to get the babies up from their nap to find only 2 of 3 in cribs...suddenly my heart started to race to see where Sophie had gotten to, and found her under the crib playing with her toys. How she got out of the crib is a mystery to me. There was no crying or anything coming from their room.

So I think it is time to maybe start thinking about toddler beds, though i am not sure I AM ready for the big move. Any ways if any of you know of any good deals on toddler beds let me know.

Handy Mandy

2009-11-20T00:27:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago we went got pictures done by Mandy Baker...and she did an amazing job. She took on A 4 year old, 3 17 month olds and a 5 month old. With only a few mild melt downs...2 babies tumbling out of the wagon and a bunch of cute pictures I would say the shoot was a success. Taylor kept calling her handy mandy (she watches handy manny all the time). Taylor thought she was such a big helper. And even informed Mandy that her fish might die if she didn't fix its water. Any way ... here is a link to her http://www.kmbakerphotography10.blogspot.com/ fastest way to find our pics is to click on family then scroll down till you see us.

3 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 6 that feel like they barely survived the weekend

2009-11-15T20:18:00.000-08:00

Gary has worked all weekend and long hours during the week and I have barley seen him this week. The babies have decided to start teething again and they always get sick when they get teeth and have been super cranky, Taylor has a bid of a cold but is suffering from severe cabin fever and I am so tired that I am just cranky. So here's to Monday and a better week (or it will be cause I refuse to let it be a bad week).

2am and I can't sleep

2009-11-14T01:07:00.001-08:00

So really its 2 am and here I am blogging...slightly regretting drinking the whole can of Full Throttle on the way home from Magrath, I may still very well be up when the babies are getting up. If I was smart I would use this time wisely and clean my house...you know the parts you never get to. But sadly those parts are in 3 rooms with 5 sleeping people, so not the best time to clean. So here you are my very few loyal readers another random post.
I wouldn't say i lead a boring life, but when talking to a friend that i haven't seen in a while and she asked what has been going on and whats new...sadly I couldn't think of anything super exciting in my life. Unless you count that we only use 12 diapers here a day instead of 24-30.
But seeing as it is 2 am you lucky readers get to enjoy the random thoughts and odd things that i have noticed lately.
1. I love to read stupid meaning on Licence Plates must admit my all time favorite Ih8myex...some divorced person went one step further in declaring there detest for there ex.
2. Think its pretty funny that Jaime has a fear of hippos and jessa has the same fear of mice as i do
3. Thinks it awesome that Jaime and Jessa went so far out of there comfort zone for taylor at the zoo...girls norman loves you
4. I have decided that I am not the most patient person when it comes to people asking dumb butt questions: example- "wow are those triplets? Your stroller is really big I bet it doesn't go through doors very well. does it shrink down small enough to go through doors with out taking the kids out?" poor lady she may never get the answer to this 20 min. conversation she had to herself while staring at my little family. Seriously Lady get a clue/
5. Even better...the lady that stops right in front of my stroller and and stares at my kids...then when I ask her to move tells me she isn't done looking at them. Lady you paid to see the zoo animals not my kids...and though we may look like a zoo we are not. Thanks Taylor for finally crashing the stroller into the lady
6. Really dumb vinyl-seriously people what the crap are you thinking...a sign on the toilet bowl with a swimmer saying no swimming-whirlpool ahead. YIKES and can we say TACKY
7. the ever long pink/brown/blue/white/purple debate (those who know me well will get this)
8. I am one day going to make my millions by making a drive-thru that serves slurpees only...every mother will thank me.
9. That here i am wearing a barbie bandaid cause in this house we don't have regular band aids its either barbie, my little pony or spiderman here.
10. everyone stops in Claresholm at the 7/11 and they seriously have the GROSSEST bathrooms ever.
Well here is the end of another random rambling...sorry guys remember 2 am when writing this
M-

Halloween Sneak Peak

2009-11-03T21:23:00.000-08:00

Taylor loved her costume. She was a Barbie Musketeer...her skirt even came off and turned into a cape!

So I may be a tad bit OCD

2009-10-25T23:11:00.000-07:00

So I very rarely write anything about me, but the past couple of weeks with sick kids including a 4 day stay at the hospital with Livie has left me a lot of time to think. I know a dangerous past time, good thing it doesn't happen very often. Seeing as I have partaken in this dangerous past time I decided to post a few rarities about myself that a lot of people may not know.

1. I can NOT sleep if there are any of my Kitchen cupboard doors left open...to the extreme that if Gary gets up in the night to get something and I didn't hear him close the door I have to get out of bed no matter how tired I am and check.

2. Keeping things on the back of toilets gross me out...and why people have open shelves behind there toilets holding toothbrushes is something i can not even fathom. This may come from living in a Divey apartment where that was the only shelf and having to replace toothbrushes once a week cause they feel onto/into the toilet.

3. I walk around my house all day making sure that toilet seats are down...cause once again the toilet thing grosses me out.

4. I sleep better if my room is slightly untidy. Don't know why but I do.

5. I like to change my hair color according to seasons

6. Garys ugly cowboy boots that he wears all the time (they use to be chore ones from his dads house) drive me crazy...don't get me wrong if he wants to wear cowboy boots well good on him....but do they have to be those ones?

7. I will be/am the wife that has bleach accidents to rid ugly clothes out of my husbands closet

8. I mock people who wear their socks pulled up all the way when they are not meant to be worn that way...and yet poor daughter wore her socks like that to church today and i couldn't say anything cause daddy had gotten 2 of the babies ready for church

9. I only wear ankle socks any other kind of socks make my feet and ankles feel claustrophobic

10. I can't sleep in both feet are covered by blankets making sleeping in a sleeping bag awful when we camp

11. I need at least 4 pillows at night to sleep well

12. I love lists...i feel accomplished with lists

So i know this is a very random post...and now i have let you into a select few oddities that make up me... stay tuned you never know what i may disclose next

Happy Birthday Taylor

2009-10-05T09:36:00.000-07:00

Lets Just start with that Taylor totally picked the picture for this post (its kinda old...June/09) Today Taylor is 4...wow I can't believe that she is that old already. We tried doing her birthday party on the weekend but due to crappy weather and her not feeling super good it didn't really happen. Though she got to see some of her favorite people as well as decided that Jessa and Jaime are lots of fun ..."those silly girls in the van".

So to celebrate Taylors 4th birthday blog style here are 4 stories/antics about her

1. If it didn't happen today or tomorrow it happened "lasterday". Everything is "lasterday" even if it was a year ago. That being said she remembers EVERYTHING. Don't tell this girl anything you don't intend on following up on.

2. Last year when the Harris' got their trampoline and Taylor would go over there to play I would ask her what she did and she always told me they went "tramping" on the "jumpoline". Loved it. Now she is excited to have our own Jumpoline

3. All she talks about lately is how next year she gets to go to school. It makes me said that it has come that fast and she will be gone 2 days a week next year. She loves doing workbooks and loves to tell stories and play pretend. The new thing in this house is that she role plays all the time, I love watching her play she is always super creative.

4. Most of all she is a good big sister. Though a little rough from time to time. She does love the babies. She is a good friend and loves to play with them. We love her tons and she is such a character...

Happy Birthday Taylor

an eerie quiet!

2009-09-29T09:13:00.000-07:00

I was sitting here thinking of how quiet it is in the house for 4 kids being awake and the Gilmore Girls not being on. I started to think wow I might get some stuff done, stuff that really needs to be done seeing as we have lots of company comming this weekend. But once again the silence didn't last long...not long at all. I am trying to enjoy every phase and am trying to convince myself that one day they will be in school and the house will be quiet from 8am till 3:30pm everyday and that I will be lonley when that day comes. Who am I KiDdInG when that day comes I am going to finally get my house clean and it stay that way all day, I am going to get to take an uninterupted shower and have a Nap or two to catch up on all the sleep I have lacked in. But for now I will accept the noise, embrace the noise and buy some really good EAR PLUGS.

side note: for those who don't know this I watched the Gilmore Girls a lot when I was pregnant with the triplets and ever since they came home if we put it on when things are crazy in the house it settles them all down really fast. Also that is where Taylor got Lukes name from

Seriously...those antics have got to stop

2009-09-24T23:54:00.000-07:00

So the problem with preemies is that they are tiny so i often forget how old they really are (and really every day melts into the next...i am sure when they are 12 maybe time will seem real again), anyways back on topic. So seeing as they are little they pull these horrendous antics and i think holy crap you are way to young to be doing this then i realise they are one and so the antics x3 will happen. Today was one of those days.

every morning when the babies wake up Taylor goes into their room first to keep them happy while i make breakfast. Well this morning i hear Taylor goes "oh no babies you are all in big trouble" the babies start to giggle , then Taylor goes "you are all very naughty and mommy is going to be MAD" So I call into Taylor and ask what is going on "Mom the babies are naked". I thought no they will at least still have there diapers on. So I asked her if they still had there diapers on and she told me no...so I went into the room and sure enough 3 sets of jammies on the floor accompanied by 3 diapers...3 completely naked babies. URGGGGGG.
I take them from there room clean them up put them in their highchairs to eat breakfast and quickly take all the bedding down stairs to be washed....I hear Taylor yelling at Luke...You are being very naughty and you are going to be in trouble. I rush upstairs and her has gotten peanut butter all over him, his sisters, 3 highchairs and the wall. (never underestimate how far peanut butter can go from one sandwich).
Get that mess cleaned up get through the morning...time for nap time. Work like a mad women cleaning and painting. Go to get the babies out of their room from nap and walk in on Luke being naked and Jumping up and down in his crib...while peeing and it going everywhere.

I could have seriously sat down and cried...it has been a long week and this was the last straw.

I use to say if i could survive there first year then it would get easier after that. I was DEAD WRONG!!!! I think the 1st year was the easiest and if I survive till they graduate from high school then it will get easier

Oh Taylor!

2009-09-11T17:58:00.000-07:00

Taylor - Mom the babies made a mess

Mom- What did they do?

Taylor- They out juice in the bimbo (bumbo)

Mom- Where did the get the juice

Taylor- Livie wanted a drink so i got her a juice box

Mom- Do babies drink from juice boxes

Taylor- No...i just thought it be funny

Mom- URGGGGGGGGG

Babies- happy as all get out and covered in juice

Just another normal day at the Mortons

Then or Now What is harder???

2009-09-09T12:54:00.000-07:00

When the babies first came home the feelings of being very overwhelmed and tired all the time caused me to panic just a bit, then I kept thinking all I have to do is survive the 1st year then things will get easier. I lied the 1st year was easier.

What was I thinking at least during the 1st year you could put them down and know that when you came back they would still be there, the need to put everything out of reach wasn't such a pressing need. Other then crying they weren't very loud and they all cuddled together.

Now, they all babble really loud, 2 are super escape artists, one whines all the time and there is no more cuddling only restling. And its amzing that even though our livingroom isn't that big someone is always missing/hiding.

I think that if i survive until they are 2 that will be the bigger miracle

Personal Space

2009-08-30T23:00:00.001-07:00

So this may come off a little ranty and for those of you who don't want to listen to me rant...well either stop reading or listen to the ranting. LOL

So anyone who knows me very well at all knows that I have personal space issues. I don't mind sharing my personal space...especially with people I know and love, I don't even mind sharing it with people I just sorta like. That being said I still like my personal space.

Having kids really infringes on personal space, simply because they rely on you for everything and they need all that love and cuddles they can get. I don't mind that, I enjoy it. That being said there are often times that when I sit down to play with all my kids I feel like I am getting attacked by a litter of puppies, cause it doesn't take long to have all three babies and Taylor fighting for that attention. It can be over whelming but I can simply give hugs and kisses and get off the floor.

During a college practicum we took what they call a "Circles Class", in this it teaches our clients that there are circles around us and who is allowed in each circle space (for safety sakes) and who we can allow into our circles. Well the circle closes to us is a red circle meaning meant for those we love and trust but people we don't know have no right in our red circle and should cause alarm.

Well for me my red circle is a very much full circle very much in titled for those I love...and when random strangers enter that circle it can almost send me up the wall, simply because it so intrusive and often very uncomfortable. Sorry this is getting long before I even get to the point of this post.

I am trying my best to live a "normal" life, by doing all the things a family would do if they only had one baby at a time. By doing this though I often feel that as soon as people notice we have triplets we become a main focus for people. Don't get me wrong, I knows its not common to see triplets, and some looks are to be expected. But seriously who walks up to someone and their kids doesn't say a word and starts to video or take pictures of them...one man seriously got 12 inches away from the triplets faces. Instantly my red circle flags went up. Its one thing to ask to take pictures or even just ask questions but to start taking Pictures like we are some kind of tourist attraction with out even talking to us really upsets me.

Its hard enough to try and live a normal life, but to always become the center of attention when we go and and get noticed, makes it a little hard to want to go and do things all the time. That being said it wont stop us from going out with them and i will continually try to keep that awkward smile on my face, and politely answer questions (that aren't to personal-so a post for another day), because we want our kids to have a well rounded life. Maybe when random strangers start taking pictures of my kids with out talking to me, I will pull out my camera and start taking pictures of them with out talking to them

How Far We Have Come...Surviving the First year

2009-06-21T00:24:00.000-07:00

Sorry the post is after all the pictures....I never think to upload the pictures first.

the morton and johnson triplets....I promise all had a good time till we took pictures!

Livie and her Cake...she was a lot messier then I thought she would be

Sophie....she looks a little frightened of her candle

Luke....he was one excited boy....to get a whole cake to himself.

So even as I write this post I can't believe that one year has come and gone so quickly. But when I look back at the year I really can believe that they are one already....I have had a years worth of not sleeping well, going from 30 diapers a day (preemie diapers at that and there are only 30 in a package), 24 bottles a day, 3 hour feed schedules where from start to finish it took just over 2 hours to feed, burp, change, settle, then start again 45 minutes after finishing the last round of feeds, 3 infant car seats, 3 swings, 3 cribs, one 2 year old that sometimes just doesn't understand, and 2 parents that for a month and a half never slept at the same time.....now fast forward one year and here we are....12 diapers a day, babies feeding themselves finger foods, 12 bottles a day, babies holding own bottles, 8-11 hour sleep schedule at night, one long nap in the afternoon, no more infant carrier car seats, no more swings constantly rocking away in the living room, toys scattered from one end of the house to the other...3 little ones that are always at my feet and one who tries to suck on my toes or pant legs when ever the chance arises. 3 very different and unique personalities, and one 3 year old that loves that the babies actually play with her now, 2 parents that actually get a full night sleep (most nights).

With a year full of ups and downs, we have loved every moment of it, and even though multiples present there own set of challenges and struggles there are many things that as a mom / family of multiples that I/we have gotten the privilege to experience that others may not get the chance to. One of those things is that there is always a child who wants cuddles and loves, but when mom is not available to always fill the need we often find that they cuddle with each other. The sounds of 3 giggling babies at the same time and knowing that those giggles not many months prior where all in NICU fighting the battle of being so early, Going into a room where 3 sets of voices are babbling away with each other, then stop to see me there and wait for me to pick them up. The main one is the fact then when you have one baby at a time it is often hard to think that even at a young age that there personalities are really developed or how different they may be compared to others....well I am hear to tell you that when you have 3 the same age you see many different personality traits in them a lot earlier then we did with Taylor.

I am excited to see what the next year will bring...I have my apprehensions cause when you think of everything one toddler can get into on its own and then triple that number it makes me a little nervous, but with each day it is an adventure, an adventure I for one would not want to miss.

Random Ramblings

2009-04-20T21:25:00.000-07:00

Seeing as I still not an avid blogger I thought I would just ramble a few thoughts around that I never get around to blogging.

1. There is nothing better then walking into a room where you have 3 sets of eyes staring at the wonderful morning hair I have been left with after a visit from Ralph The Night Hairdresser (John Bytheway reference). At least they smile at me kick there feet and giggle when I pick them up. There older sister on the other hand in a very 3 going on 13 attitude tells me my hair is scary.

2. Teething sucks!!!! Yup that pretty much sums it up...you think one child teething is bad...3 at a time is just some cruel joke that makes mommies want to lose there mind.

3. For some strange reason I have decided that I am losing all brain power and becoming dumber so I have decided to take Nursing classes part time through Bow Valley College.

4. I am leaving all 4 kids with Gary over night while I go to Time Out for Women in Edmonton. A little nerve racking for me cause I have never left the babies over night with him...and I think I have left Taylor a total of 5 nights with him ( 2 of which where when they went camping with Scott and Julia)

5. I am not so sure that I am going to be ready for the Vulcan Triathlon and might very well just die trying...good thing I have a month to train after Gary is done school

6. I love Spring...hate mud covered children traipsing through the house

7. Funny Fact the triplets can generate 1 load of laundry from bedtime to morning.

8. I hate doing laundry

9. As crazy as it sounds i am very much looking forward to camping this summer with my whole little crew

10. Its nice to say that in 2 weeks time Gary being in University will be one bad dream we will never have to live again.

Oh the things I wish I had pictures of...

2009-03-21T20:27:00.000-07:00

Why is it that when kids are being super cute, silly funny ect. the camera is never handy? Today was one of those days that I wish I had my camera handy.

Taylor had her friends over playing and they where watching Barbie and the 12 Dancing Princesses, Taylor and Julia put on the dresses from the dress up box, the fancy plastic high heeled shoes and then started dancing with the movie, one of them would shout out "they are spinning" then they both would spin together. I was watching this for a while before I realized that while they were dancing they where holding play cell phones to their ear. I love little girls, they are so funny.

This ones for Laura

2009-02-25T23:12:00.000-08:00

The other day I was reading my friend Lauras post on "Firsts". In it she said that Beauty and The Beast was the 1st movie she remembered seeing in the theater. I remember going to this movie with her at least twice and the once was in Calgary and that was quite and exciting thing for me. Any ways some how I think we both got a little obsessed with it cause we also had the collectors cards for it (and the Little Mermaid).

Any ways, after reading her blog it made me have a nostalgic moment, so today I dusted of the good ol' VHS machine and pulled out my VHS copy of the movie and watched it with Taylor and her friends....and after all these years, it is still a great movie.

Little Miss Livie

2009-02-25T22:51:00.001-08:00

Little Miss Livie....are you always going to be the one that gives mom the most grief when it comes to your health???

So of all the members of our not so little family, you Lou have spent time in all 4 of Calgarys hospitals...Not such a good thing to be known for.

The first weeks of your little life you spent at the Foothills hospital, where you gave us all a scare when you got s Staph Infection, then after a few weeks there they moved you and your womb mates in one isolet over to the Rocky Veiw Hospital (we loved when you little ones got moved there...it was the first time mom and seen you all in one spot together). Not to long after being at the Rocky they told us that Sophie and Luke were ready to go home...but not you quite yet, what a sad day it was when we brought 2 of our 3 home and had to leave you there all by your self. Then due to a bed shortage you were moved to the PLC where you were there for 4 days (lets not get started on the bad experience we had there). We finally get you home. Live was busy but good, full of many tears, moments of laughter and a lot of joy.

Lets skip ahead some months later......sickness reaches the Morton home.

I sure was feeling lucky when you were the only one that didn't get sick, mom still worries about you lots cause your kinda on the tiny side still. But in true Livie form you had a different plan for mom, just as the other 2 were getting better and after what felt like a million trips to the E.R. to get all of your oxygen levels checkes you decide to get sick in a big way. Colds are not good when you are so little especially when it becomes bronchitis and RSV. So for the 3rd time in your life you took an ambulance again, this time from Strathmore Hospital to The Childrens Hospital. Where we spent a full night in the E.R. rooms waiting for a bed for you. By this point mom was very tired. Lucky for us that after being admitted Sunday Morning, you were able to come home Monday afternoon.

Livie you are such a trooper, and we are sure glad that you are home and feeling better.

Love mom

Skating

2009-01-29T17:42:00.000-08:00

So today was a 1st for Taylor. We went skating at her friends place today...well sorta...there was a lot of sitting on the ice happening. Its a lot of work getting kids ready for skating...i admire all of you moms who have kids in hockey or any other skating sports. It took almost an 1 hour to get Taylor, Ethan and Julia ready for skating then they skated for about 20minutes. It was worth it though because they all had a lot of fun. Ethan does pretty good and impressed me by his ability to fall down, laugh so hard he had tears in his eyes then get back up, Taylor and Julia on the other hand had a harder time...it was a 1st for both of them to be on the ice with skates...they did master standing on their own for 3.6 seconds then falling to the ice and deciding it was more fun just to sit there and laugh at Ethan.

The Count Down

2008-12-07T21:27:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to say the count down is on. Most people would assume that I was counting down the days till Christmas, and don't get me wrong I am excited about Christmas for we have been very blessed this year. But I am on the count down for Gary to be done exams and we has his full attention for almost a month! This for Taylor and I is a huge thing to look forward to.

Finally Brave

2008-11-30T17:24:00.000-08:00

So this morning I finally tackled a new adventure that I have been putting off...Church with all 4 kids by my self. Gary was at the school studying today and so I figured I would just stay home with the kids and take it easy, but Taylor had other plans. She was excited that it was Sunday and she wanted to get her dress on and go to church. It wasn't as bad as I anticipated, thanks to the great sisters in our ward and an awesome friend. The biggest shinning moment was that I was only 10 minutes late. YAY

Three times the work or three times the blessings?

2008-11-23T23:17:00.000-08:00

So latlely I have been reading blogs of other triplet moms and talking to a few and I am starting to feel a little uneasy of the up-comming years...especially when i think about them all starting to crawl and walk at the same time. So I have been thinking is it really three times the work or three times the blessings?

I have decided it is both. I love our little ones and they have brought great joy and happiness to our home, they have also brought lots of tears, doubts and frustration as well. But when I way it all out the joy and happiness they have brought greatly out weighs the not so great stuff. So my new saying is three times the work, but three times the blessings.

Just as a side note to this post...

So latley when I have gone out with the babies and Taylor I hear a lot of people say that they are so glad that it's not them, or ask what I was thinking actually agreeing to carry all 3 (when you are having triplets you have the option for selctive reduction...so not me), or many people telling what a horrible life I must have. Then on the other hand I have people tell me that it is a great blessing to have 3 healthy babies, and a toddler to bring so much love to our home, or tell me how special it is to have triplets. So as I have pondered these things that have been said to me I have made a couple conclusions

1. All the negitive comments I have gotten have come from us through and through Canadians

2. All the positive comments have come from people whos families are immagrents to canada.

Why is it that a majority of Canadians see having multiple babies at a time as the most horrible thing to ever happen to a person, while other cultures see it as a great blessing and a privlage. Has the world really turned that many people into negtive doom sayers....that can't see the blessings for what it is...A BLESSING not a TRAGEDY???

Just something to ponder.

A Quick Update

2008-11-10T16:29:00.000-08:00

So it has been a long time since I lasted posted, then I started to wonder where September and October had gone. It seems like we finally got into the swing of fall and winter is now quickly comming.

Our not so little family has been keeping us very busy. Taylor is playing soccer and in a dance class. The babies are getting bigger all the time and are becoming way more interactive...which Taylor is loving.

Seeing as I haven't posted pictures for awhile I'll post some pictures and try and be more faithful in blogging about our "cRaZy" life that we have...but love.

In the next couple days I will get the pictures from Taylors Birthday, the Baby Blessings and Halloween posted...so stay tuned

Pictures

2008-09-02T15:08:00.000-07:00

So we had some Pictures of the babies and Taylor done a couple of weekends ago. And of the ones i have seen I am in love and still think that Devon is the greatest!!! The babies are still growing like weeds and Taylor loves them more everyday. She is such a big helper, and is able to get little smirks out of the three of them. This week looks like it should be more laid back then the past few...which is nice, I have a lot i need to get done and organized before the cold weather sets in and we do most of our playing inside. So this is kind of a random post and hopefully next time I will be able to come up with something more intelligent to say...but really this is the best it gets when lack of sleep is involved

Wow it has been a while!

2008-08-25T21:18:00.000-07:00

Seeing as it has been a while since I last posted I am not going to worry about putting pictures up today. Because I seriously still have a hard time getting it to work always.

We have loved having all the babies home and they are all doing great. We have even ventured on our first southern Alberta trip with them. It was a lot of work but well worth it.

They are all starting to act more like new borns then premies. With more consistant awake times and asleep times. They are traking with there eyes to peoples voices and are starting to be more interactive all the time.

I must admit that it is a lot of work all day and all night and I am very greatful that Gary is such a wonderful husband and helps a lot.

Little miss Taylor...all the excitement has finally caught up to her

2008-07-27T09:31:00.000-07:00

Needless to say this summer has been a very eventful one and poor Taylor has just been on the go the whole time and has seemed to forgotten that she had a good schedule. That and sad as it is to me she is out growing naps. But finally this week everything has started to catch up to her and she has been very exhausted. That and she has been fighting a cold and sore throat and has not been her self. Any ways these are a couple of the funny pictures we have gotten of her this week. And the one where she is wearing her hat...I swear she was home with her dad all day and that was not of my doing. LOL.

Since most of the posts have been based around the babies I thought that I would do a quick top 10 list of Taylorisms.
1. clocklet milk (chocolate milk) must be asked for at least 10 times before 8am
2. gritting your teeth...making muscles and grring makes mom and dad laugh a lot...even though mom pretends to hate it
3.When in doubt dance...this girl will dance to anything
4. Wearing your flips on the wrong feet will result in falling...though you keep doing it
5.Playing with friends is a muchly loved activity
6. Tramping is really jumping on the tramp.(seriously she cracks me up)
7. Every bird is an owl.
8. Coloring book pages make great maps.
9. Tutus can be worn with everything
10. Cowboy boots look great with PJs.

Taylor is a very funny girl and will be a great big sister

Nurse Alexis is the best!!!!

2008-07-20T21:42:00.000-07:00

So having been NICU parents for almost 6 weeks now we are finding that we and our babies prefer some nurses over others. Nurse Alexis has become by far my favorite nurse for our little trio. She is always so patient and kind, goes the extra mile for us and is a very easy person to be around, which in our case is very good. Nurses are assigned 3 babies per shift so usually they are working with three different babies/families and in 3 different curtain areas, seeing as we have 3 in our troop the nurse that has them only has them which means we get to spend a lot of time with our nurses. We greatly appreciate all the care we have received by the nurses, but some do stand out more then others. Alexis being one of them...she knows our babies personalities, there likes and dislikes and seems to be able to get them to progress in ways that marvel us. Also Taylor likes her...which for those of you who know her, she likes to play shy and give people the one over, so for her to like Alexis so much is great cause it makes our trips to the NICU so much easier. She still plays shy with her, but she trusts her so that is what matters.
The babies are all getting big and today Alexis had me hold all 3 at one time, wow what a great/overwhelming moment. It was so nice to hold all three at one time and get a good look at them so close together. Poor Luke looks absolutely huge next to his sisters. But the girls are quickly catching up. They are all doing well and are bottling most of their feeds.
As for Taylor she is very happy to be back at home with us and all her stuff...she had a busy week last week, going to the zoo and Heritage Park catching up on some greatly missed play time with her friends. This week will be a fun week too cause Aunt Myrna is coming to stay with us for a couple of days. I will admit that I am very excited to have her come stay with us.

There was 3 in the bed and the little on said...

2008-07-14T20:59:00.000-07:00

We finally got a picture of the 3 of them all together. I love the nurses at the NICU...they are truly there for the families of the babies. I had brought in the girls headbands and tutus thinking that at least i could get cute pictures of them all on there own. I had left the camera in the van, so i ran out to get it and when i got back there where 8-10 nurses and 2 drs around one of the beds, so i panicked thinking that something had happened, but the nurses had just found the stuff i had brought in and thought that it would be fun if they got them all dressed up and put them all together for me to see when i got back. It was an awesome moment cause it was the first time that i had seen all 3 together at the same time.
Now that i am done telling about our first photo shoot of the 3 together i will quickly update how they are all doing. Luke has been growing fast and is now weighing in at over 4 lbs. the girls are both about 3.5 lbs. They have all gone 5 or more days with now A's and B's (basically no alarms going off...easiest way to explain it.) They are all taking the bottle part of the time and sometimes doing a whole feed with just the bottle.
Little tid bits of information we have found out this week...
1) when they moved the babies from the Foot Hills they all came in one islet
2) if you really like a nurse you can request that she is your nurse when she comes back after her days off
3) Your babies can change a lot in 3 days of not seeing them
4) That sometimes it is hard to find the balance between the 3 at the hospital and Taylor and sometimes you feel that no matter how hard you try that some one is lacking somewhere with the attention that they need
5) And that even when you feel that you are lacking telling each other that you love them and telling our kids that we love them...makes us realize that we aren't really lacking after all

Hello Bottles

2008-07-09T22:41:00.000-07:00

Today was another one of those days that what seems like a little thing was a really big and exciting thing for us. Our nurse Alexis (who we love and adore), decided that they were all doing really well with there soothers and decided to try giving them part of their feeds through a bottle. They all did really well, especially our Little Livie. Livie did one whole feed with her bottle. All the nurses where so excited and she gets a certificate to go above her bed marking her accomplishment.

Just a side note to how much the nurses put into the care of our babies. All the babies had signs marking there first Calgary Stampede, made by one of the nurses on all of the beds in there today. I love all the little touches that the nurses do.

A Little Gary

2008-07-09T06:36:00.001-07:00

So a conclusion has been made...Luke is a little Gary. I have decided there is no mom in him and he is all his dad. The past two weeks when ever I look at him all I can see is Gary. Even others who look at his say you can tell who is dad is. It amazes me that so many things that we think are learned behaviors that our kids end up doing are actually traits that they are born with. There are so many actions that Luke does already that are so much like his dad. It has been great to watch Gary bond with all of his kids...but I will admit that every time I see him hold Luke my heart skips a beat. Gary is such an awesome dad and husband and I couldn't have asked for better.

Good Bye Foot Hills---------Hello Rocky View

2008-07-07T20:21:00.000-07:00

So after 24 days our time at the Foot Hills NICU has come to an end, we miss our fabulous nurses we had there and the friends we met, but graduating to the Rocky View means one step closer to home. Don't get me wrong when they called and said they were transferring the babies I was a little disappointed that it wasn't to the PLC. Who am I kidding I was hugely disappointed. It only took 5 minutes of being at the Rocky View NICU and I was in love with the surroundings...its nice to have big windows, the nurses, and the fact that we can be way more hands on with our little ones now. In the past 3 days Gary and I have logged way more cuddle time with them then we did the whole first 24 days of their lives, and it has been great!

So quick update on the three. Sophie is such a happy little girl who loves her cuddles. She weighs 3 pounds now and is eating every 3 hours.

Livie is quickly catching up, her last IV is out and she has increased her feeds and is eating every 2 hours, she loves cuddles but get over stimulated easily (she didn't get any holding or cuddling for 10 days after she was sick so it has been hard on her getting use to being held again-no worries though they say it won't last long). Her weight is up to 2lbs 15oz. Really good for a little one that at one point weighed less then 2 lbs.

Luke is growing big so fast he already weighs 3 lbs 8 oz, and is super long. He gets upset when his sisters are being held and not him, and when you are done holding him he needs to be placed on his stomach so that he doesn't get as up set that he isn't being held any more.

Seeing as something happened when i was uploading pictures I will add the ones of Luke and Gary with Luke in my next post.

The top picture is of Sophie, the middle one of Livie and the last one is of me being able to give kisses to Sophie for the first time with nothing on her face. (they were changing her g-tube)

What 18 hours can do...

2008-07-04T22:51:00.000-07:00

When thinking over what can happen in an 18 hour time period, most people would say not much ever exciting happens on a daily basis in that time period. I use to be one of those people. The last 3 weeks has taught me differently though. We have learned that in that time period your family can go from 3 to 6 just that quickly, that a baby who was content and well when you left the NICU the night before can get sick and set her back a week in progression, babies can go from being on si-pap (sorry I know the spelling is off on that one) skip over c-pap and go on to nasal prongs and do great when 18 hours prior they couldn't.
Well 18 hours brought many changes to our three little ones today...the major one being that we finally have all 3 babies next to each other...technically we have 2 in one bed spot and 1 in another, but with only a desk and not a whole unit dividing them it is great. Luke no longer has his nasal prongs, Sophie is being bumped to 3 hour feeds and Livie should be getting her IV out by Sunday at the latest. Its hard to imagine a visit without nasal prongs or IVs on any of the babies. Holding them has just become a 100% easier.

The Little Things that Matter

2008-07-03T22:50:00.000-07:00

While talking to another mom at the NICU, we were discussing how the littlest things that most parents take for granted, change once you have a child in the NICU, then those littlest things become big things. Such examples are touching them and holding them for the first time. the first time we got to hold the syringe while the babies ate through their g-tube, getting to dress them in sleepers for the first time and actually being the person who dressed them, even changing their diapers becomes a big thing. Every milestone they reach and surpass with flying colors gives us even more reason to be excited and relieved at the same time.
There has been many little things that have become big things this week, Sophie decided to pull her nose prongs off herself and they decided that if she was doing that then she no longer needed them, Livie got moved into the A-pod and they are hoping that in a few days she will be eating enough to take her IVs out, and Luke has been moved from 2 hour feedings to 3 hour feedings. A major little thing that was huge to us, was being able to hold Luke and Sophie together tonight. It was one of the best feelings ever, especially when they started to wiggle around and get in there comfortable spots with one another. We were lucky enough to have them together for about an hour. It was a little sad that one of them was missing, but we are hoping that it won't be to much longer till we can hold all 3 together.
Another thing that I have realized this week, is that as much as I hate having toys underfoot all day, and watching Barbie and the 12 Dancing Princesses, Franklin and Little Bear, and listening to elmo's song EVERY time we get into the van....that I miss Taylor so much when she is gone and wouldn't trade being a mom for anything.

All 3 in A-Pod

2008-07-02T10:52:00.000-07:00

So it has been a couple of days since our last post. Taylor left Sunday for Magrath for 2 weeks and I am missing her a lot. Monday I went into Calgary and spent the day with the babies and Gary came in later, while we were there they moved Livie into A-pod. We are very excited to have all 3 in the same area. They are all doing great and we were able to hold all 3 of them, very exciting cause it had been 10 days since we last held Livie.

They are all gaining weight and not having as many a's and b's anymore. We are now crossing our fingers that something will open up at the PLC so we can get transfered there.

Family Night at the NICU

2008-06-27T22:50:00.001-07:00

Tonight we went to the NICU with Taylor. She hasn't been very many times, but she does pretty good for the most part when we are there. She was very excited that she got to sit on my lap while i held Luke. All she kept asking for was to hold his hand.
Today was a big day for all the babies. Livie (top Picture) no longer has her nose prongs. Yay...we finally are getting to see more of her face. Luke and Sophie have been doing so good on there feeds that both of there IVs came out today. It was so nice to hold them and they not be attached to as many things any more. The Drs. are hoping they are off there nose prongs to in the next week.

Gary got his first cuddles with Sophie tonight and she is looking like such a big girl now that the nurses are putting sleepers on her. So tommorow i will be washing premie clothes so that they are wearing there own clothes.

Grandpa's Vist With Sophie

2008-06-27T07:27:00.000-07:00

Last night after moving the new Play Center into our backyard. Grandpa Morton and I went into the NICU to see the babies. The nurse told us it wasn't to long till she needed to feed Sophie and at the same time her isolet needed changed so if we wanted to stay we could hold her while she did all the things that she needed to.

That being said Grandpa got his first cuddles with Sophie. So far other then Gary and I he is the only one to have gotten cuddle time with any of the babies.

Today Sophie will move onto what they call full feeds of a whopping 13ml of formula every 2 hours, she well get that until she is almost 34 weeks and we start introducing her to the bottle then her feeds will start to go up again. Tomorrow Luke will be up to his full feeds as well. Livie is getting better everyday and we are hoping that in the next couple of days the drs. will have more of an idea what they are going to do with her, so that they can start increasing her feeds and start getting her ready to move to the A pod. It will be nice to have then all in the same area.

Big Step in the Right Direction

2008-06-26T18:07:00.000-07:00

There are many moments that as a mom I can say have been great mommy moments. I had another one of those moments today.

I called the NICU to check on our little ones and found out that Sophie and Luke have been moved to the same curtain spot!!!! If that wasn't exciting enough, the nurse then told me that Sophie no longer needed her Protein and Lipids that they have been giving her by IV cause she is gaining and maintaining her weight very well, so that means if she continues that way she will have her IVs all removed in a couple of days and only have her nose prongs and feeding tube. They also said that tomorrow they are going to try and take Luke off his protein and lipid IV and if he does well he too will have his IVs removed. I am so excited at the prospect of being able to see and hold them with out so much attached to them all the time.

Livie is recovering still from her infection, but is doing very well, she is growing fast and has had no bratys today, which means that when her infection is all cleared up she should be moving to the A pod, and after being there she is closer to being in the same curtain area with the other two.

Taylor has been having a lot of fun being home, and can't seem to get enough of playing outside and with her friends. I am going to miss her tons when she is gone for 2 weeks, but at least when she gets home I should be doing almost everything that I want to do again.

I probably should have added pictures

2008-06-25T07:10:00.001-07:00

Taylor - taken April 2008

Sophie-Taken June 15th

Luke- Taken June 15th

Livie-taken June 16th

So today the babies are two weeks old, and we are in need of some newer pictures of the 3 of them, especially cause all three are now and nose prongs and you can get a better idea of what their little faces look like.

New Begginings

2008-06-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

Who says blog spots are easy??? I have a hard time deciding what to write and how to get started. So bear with me as a muddle through getting this whole blogging thing down. I will admit that one of the main reasons I am starting this blog is that we get many questions daily on how the triplets are doing, and I find myself sending the same message over and over again. At least here I can post pictures and information and keep our families and friends updated. Especially seeing as my time is limited and I generally forget to send pictures to those who ask ect.

So quick update. The babies are all doing great. For those of you who don't know they where born on June 11, 2008. Livie Myrna weighed 2lbs 6oz, Luke Myron weighed 2lbs 7oz and Sophie Lynne weighed 2lbs 7oz.

Taylor is so in love with them and this week she was able to hold their hands when we went to see them with her. The babies are all doing wonderful and are starting to fill out there features. Livie had a rough spell for a couple of days, but is bouncing back fast. Sophie and Luke have been moved to A pod, which is a great step, cause it means we are getting closer to being transfered to the PLC. Which would be great cause it isn't as long of a drive in everyday.

Taylor just got back from a week in Magrath where she had a ton of fun. We missed her tons and are glad to have her back.