Personal Space

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

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

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...

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

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

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

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.