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WELCOME, GUEST |
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(2 members)
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v.marie6 |
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stacyat6 |
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THE MCTRIPLETS
McTriplet Mommy |
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| Category: Home | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
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AWWWW YEAH!
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Jan 04, 2008 03:48pm (EST)
Well, had my job interview today. It went great! Not only that - I worked out with my mother-in-law and my husband what my schedule could look like. And it all fell in to place.
I accepted a position as Family Teams Specialist for March for Babies here in KC. The job is part-time and it is just temporary (just through Walk March season) but I am SO incredibly pumped. It really boils down to only about four or five months - and then I'm done in time for the boys to be off of school for the summer. Perfect!
I am SO excited! If I were to describe my dream job - this would be it. Working with Mission Families here locally and helping them meet goals for March for Babies. I am *thrilled*!!
Thank you all for you well wishes and support on the childcare issues. I think it will only work out to my MIL picking S up from school one day a week and then spending the afternoon here and spending one morning here with I & L while S is at school - otherwise - I will be able to work while they're at school. I am SO excited.
Woohoo!
Kara
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Posted by McTriplet Mommy | Comments: (13) | Permalink
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ONE YEAR???
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Jan 02, 2008 01:26pm (EST)
When reviewing my blogs for the past year, I blogged in January about how Lorne ate his first Cheerio. My two year old boy ATE his first Cheerio. We cheered, we rejoiced, we made predictions...
My prediction was that by Lorne's third birthday (September 2007), we'd be done using his tube. Well... that didn't exactly happen. But I am *stunned* about how much progress he HAS made in the past year!
Eating with Lorne is a nasty, unappetizing, gross experience - and we're thrilled. This kid LOVES to eat now. Now, don't get me wrong... He is not consuming enough calories each day to remove even one ounce of food through his tube. But what a world of difference! I was seriously convinced he'd be taking that pump to high school. He will probably have his tube on his fourth birthday, he may have it on his fifth, he may have it when he starts kindergarten. But you know what? Some day he won't need it!
He eats whatever his brothers do now. He takes a few bites at each meal. It takes him sometimes half an hour or more to chew up one french fry. But you know what?? HE CHEWS UP A FRENCH FRY!!!!! He puts food in his mouth now, he chews it, and he swallows it. It takes a lonnnnng time to get from "food in mouth" to swallowing - but my goodness. Isn't this huge??????!!!!!!
He chews and slobbers and makes messes and spits food out - but we are absolutely beside ourselves with joy and we are SO proud of him! I went to a New Year's Eve party at a friend's house whose husband happens to work with my step-mom. (They actually have three year old triplets, too.) He said when we got there, "Wow, Cindy told me Lorne ate a french fry!!" ..... we had been out to lunch with Grandma Cindy one day a few months ago and he ate - consumed completely - a single french fry. I guess she rushed back and told everyone at the office!
I've been feeling kind-of down lately. I've put a bunch of weight back on and I'm so angry about it - though I have no one to blame but myself. I am considering going back to work - and am running into big concerns about what in the world to do with my son who has a feeding tube and major sensory problems. It just feels like another punch in the gut that still three years later, our entire lives are somehow affected by the boys' prematurity.
But as I looked at old pictures, as we made the rounds at Christmas (which was WONDERFUL!!!) and everyone commented on how adorable and smart and great the boys are, as I realize that - though slow - progress is being made... I feel very hopeful! And, honestly, it makes me feel good that not only our family who has been through all of this with us - but our friends get it, too. They are right there cheering along with us.
Wow, did anyone get to the end here? I started writing about Lorne's feeding - didn't realize it was going to be this long! But I just wanted to give some others out there hope. It may take time (a lonnnnnnng time) but things change. 
Hope everyone had a great New Year and a great Christmas!!
Take care,
Kara
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Posted by McTriplet Mommy | Comments: (12) | Permalink
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ANANOTOMY OF A BRACELET
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Dec 17, 2007 06:23pm (EST)
It amazes me how many people assume that - since my boys are triplets - they must be incredibly alike. How they must have incredibly similar personalities, the same likes and dislikes, the same habits, the same... well, everything.
Today we went to a local indoor playplace. Very cool place.... there is a "cooking" area (last time we dipped a pretzel rod in almond park and shook sprinkles on top!), there are many imaginary play areas (a pizza shop, a bank, a grocery store, a dress up area) and there is a craft area. Today - the craft was making Christmas bracelets. Stringing little beads on a piece of green elastic. There were red, green and clear beds. I was afraid the boys would spill the bowls of beads so I just put some on the table in front of them. Then we taped the elastic to the table so the boys could string the beads without them coming off the other end.
Lorne managed to get one bead on (these were SMALL beads) Then told me, "You do it." I put two more on and he declared he was, "All done!" I convinced him to let me add some more as he ran around the room getting in to trouble.
Sullivan strung the beads quickly... then decided he didn't like how they looked and took them all off and started over. He strung the next set - then decided he didn't want the "white" ones - and took all of the beads off again. He strung them all a third time - all green with one random red bead.
Isaac did amazingly well stringing these small beads! I asked Sullivan to switch places with Isaac so I could sit between L & I and help them both - but Isaac was doing great on his own! He strung bead after bead - in no certain order - until there was absolutely no room left on the string. The girl running the craft tried to tell him that we needed room to tie it so she would take a few off for him - he went bezerk. He wanted to do it, "Myself!!!"
Crack me up. I didn't get ten words into each description before my parents knew *exactly* which bracelet was made by whom. Lorne - absolutely NO attention span. Sullivan - things have to be *just* right. Isaac - who cares what it looks like - as long as I did it without help.
We had a great weekend - Grandma Cindy turned 50 and we celebrated! We went to a "cookie party" on Sunday to help make cookies. Actually - the stories are much the same! Lorne made one (which looked completely disastrous) and was off to explore the house. Sullivan sat for half an hour making cookies - but only produced about ten because he wanted them to look JUST right. Isaac was a gooey mess - but he had a lot of fun!
Don't forget about the chat tomorrow at 3:00 Central! All about the holidays and our babies - whether you are spending the season without your sweet child, you are spending it in the NICU, or you are all having the time of your life - please join us for this live chat!
12-17-07 boys bracelets
12-16-07 boys Chiefs
SV100528
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Posted by McTriplet Mommy | Comments: (11) | Permalink
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MY SPECIAL SON
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Dec 12, 2007 05:10pm (EST)
I got one of *those* comments on Saturday. I've really only gotten a handful of *those* comments - the ones that make you want to go and hide and cry all day. The ones that - typically - the "offender" didn't mean ANYthing mean by - but they just... get you.
The first I can remember specifically. We were at the mall and some lady asked me,
"What's wrong with him?" <pointing to Lorne>
"Uh, nothing. He's beautiful. He's perfect." And me wanting to add, "What's wrong with YOU??"
"Well - what's with THAT??" <pointing to her noise and motioning to Lorne>
"Uh, that's oxygen."
"Well, why?"
"To help him breathe." ..... ask a stupid question... get a stupid answer!
I've received a few, "How do they find the prescription in glasses THAT small?" which always make me cringe, too.
But Saturday - I was unprepared.
Saturday - we went to my step-mom's holiday Christmas party. She works for the Children's Hospital (indirectly) and they always have this big family Christmas party. Caricature artists, Santa, crafts, magic show - big doin's. Everyone also gets a coupon for a free book from Borders just for coming. REALLY great books - the boys each chose really nice kid's books but the Beatles book my dad chose was a really nice, hard back book which retailed, I'm sure, for $30 or more.
So - we were in the book line. My dad had gone over to get in that line (which was LONG!) while we were doing some crafts. He called us when he got close so the boys could come pick their books. We mosey over and the boys are showing off their "crafts" (felt in the shape of a stocking with cotton balls glued to the top and a reindeer made from tracing their hands) to Grandpa.
Grandpa pretends to act all impressed. Like these are THE best art projects he's EVER seen. The boys think all three of their Grandpas walk on water - so to hear Grandpa Mike say their "crafts" are AWESOME - that is big!!
The kind woman behind us is actually help wrangle my three mad men. There are three of us (adults) you'd think we could handle it - but one (and never the same one!) keeps managing to slip away. She is a saint.
She puts her hand on Lorne's head and makes some comment as he was showing his "art" that, "We have a special grandson, too. We always put his artwork front and center. We are so proud of him!!"
She meant well. She was a VERY proud grandma. So proud that she needed to brag about ALL of her grandchildren - and how she loved them all. How even the "special" grandson meant a lot to her. She was an extremely kind, well-meaning women admiring (and helping to wrangle!) my beautiful boys.
But it killed me. Absolutely felt like a punch in the gut. Did MY son, Lorne, seem THAT "special" to you? By looking at my darling boy - you could really tell that he's *that*.... "different"?
Lorne is a smart cookie. He's going to be one of those people who remembers you for *life* after he meets you. He is going to be the one at the high school reunion who *everyone* remembers being friends with in high school. He can recite his ABCs, name body parts that kids twice his age have never heard of, speak in sentences that amaze me.... but he's... well, different. His behavior is not that of a three-year old. His "eye-contact", his posture, his movements - it's all... a bit "off." But, typically, you don't notice it.
It really upset me that this very well-meaning, kind, grandmotherly women used a little word like "special" in reference to him.
Maybe I'm being too sensitive. ALL of my kids (heck - all of OUR kids!!!) are special. What child do you know who *isn't* a special, wonderful, adorable little being? But - was it that obvious that Lorne was a little *more*... er, "special"? That bothered me.
Anywho - sorry I haven't been around much the past week. I've been siiiiiick. The boys didn't really get it that bad - but boy it knocked me on my butt! I don't know why some very nice, very harmless comment got to me so much this weekend - but this was one of THOSE comments that made me want to go run and hide.
Xoxo to all. Stay warm!!
Kara
boys caricature
12-8-07 boys santa
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Posted by McTriplet Mommy | Comments: (14) | Permalink
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DOCTOR'S VISIT
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Dec 05, 2007 06:10pm (EST)
Well - today was Isaac's much anticipated visit with endocrinology...... okay - this has nothing to do with the rest of the post but it's too funny not to share.... today I was watching TV when my dad called. Lorne wanted to talk and said, "Hi, Grandpa Mike - I'm watching Rachel Ray!" Yeah - mom of the year right here - my kid recognizes Rachel Ray. I told my dad - at least it wasn't, "Look - it's Howard Stern!" or, "Look it's Jerry Springer!" Rachel Ray I think is okay. Anyway - just had to share.... so Isaac's appointment was "okay". Yeah - just okay. I'm not sure what I was *hoping* to gain from it.... maybe a "Sure - he's a bit small - but smart and perfect, there is absolutely no reason for follow up!" - but I'm sure you're guessing that's not what happened.
He was SO good today - even when it is a trip to the doctor - the boys are thrilled to have one-on-one time. Makes me sad that it happens so infrequently that even a trip to the doctor is fun! The nurse and both doctors commented on how adorable he was and what a talker he is!!
The consensus today was basically that Isaac is tiny (duh). Our next step is a test (three hours - fun!) to test his growth hormone level as well as several blood draws to test for various things including food allergies and gluten intolerance. She was really preparing me for the possibility or growth hormone therapy. She really seemed like that was the route we were going to go. GHT is shots - I knew that. What I didn't know is it is shots nearly every day (6/7 days a week). Not just that - it is shots nearly every day from now - until puberty. Ten years or so of giving my kid shots. As you can imagine - that does not sound too exciting. The children's hospital is great and Scott and I are *so* pro-doctor. Neither of us have an "MD" behind our name and we really trust the doctors' opinions. But I've also learned to be an advocate for MY child and I will research this extensively before we go this route. When I started asking about waiting - she said some parents choose to do that, even put off the testing since it is hard for a 3 year old, that basically the earlier the intervention the better - but that the opportunity isn't "lost" until much closer to puberty.
What Scott and I have basically decided is that we will do the testing now. We bring him in one morning (has to be fasting) and they do several blood draws and a 3 hour growth hormone test with an IV in (not sure how it works and why it takes three hours.... anyone???). If there is a growth hormone defiency - that seems pretty cut and dry. He needs supplements. That still doesn't mean we have to start right away - even if we start at age 5 or 6 we get a big advantage over starting at age 9 or 10.
If he has a "normal" GH level - she said growth hormone therapy may still be an option because of his size, growth pattern etc. - but that seems way less cut and dry to us as parents. We'll cross that bridge if we have to.
I'm not even sure what to hope for in the testing. A significant growth hormone difiency would make the "decision" part way easier - but would mean that he would basically "definitely" need therapy. A more normal level would make the decision part harder - but may mean if we "wait it out" - he will be "okay" in the long run even withOUT intervention....
AHH!!! Please e-mail me ASAP if you have perfected that time machine you've been working on! If I knew for sure that this was the answer and the best thing for him - I'd certainly endure giving him shots six days a week and it would be easier for ME to rationalize putting him through all of that. If I KNEW that he was NOT going to grow well on his own and that the GH would help - I would do it. I just hate having to make this big of a decision without knowing what the future will bring. But, again - I think we're probably talking a few years in the future. We'll see what happens. My little brother is nearly six feet tall and totally "normal" (hate that word...) physically - pretty good looking if I do say so myself! And they discussed all of this with my parents as he was SO incredibly small in childhood. Even freshman AND sophomore year of high school he wrestled in the 89 pound weight class and ate like a total pig as he was so small that he never had to worry about cutting weight. But - of course - he didn't have the history Isaac does.... so that's different, too. But maybe not?
Help! Opinions anyone? Anyone researched this? Side effects (besides of course the horror or my poor sweet little boy receive shots for ten years)?? Is this related to his prematurity? I have a few months to research before the testing - then a few weeks after that, I'm sure, before we get the results and have to make any decisions. I'm totally lost. To make matters much more interesting - our current insurance only runs - for sure - through April when Scott graduates from school. Wonderful.
Another aside..... I picked up Isaac at 10:00 this morning from preschool so Lorne had to ride the bus home "alone". I was very nervous how he would react, made sure to "warn" his teacher and the bus driver and driver's aide.... when Scott got him off the bus the driver told him Lorne practically could have cared less! I also got to see them for a few minutes together in school - they were both in library when I got there which is right in front where you walk in. They were sitting right next to each other holding hands. I'm not even kidding you. Now - some of it was that with their visual considerations - they typically get the "up front" seats in most classes... but to see them there together was SO cute!!
Okay - enough rambling. Sullivan is screaming for me (Daddy let him nap for half an hour today so he is having a terrible bedtime!!!). Better run.
Take care,
Kara
Christmas card final
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Posted by McTriplet Mommy | Comments: (12) | Permalink
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BABY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS
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Dec 04, 2007 05:17pm (EST)
You know the one.... the bibs and ornaments and shirts you will buy for Baby... the gifts you have ready... the memories you will make... the life-long traditions you will start... the family celebrations where you pass around your newborn and everyone "Ooohs!" and "Ahhhhs!" at the sweet thing while you enjoy the time "off"..... the "Baby's first stocking" that Santa fills with pacifiers and socks and things.... the big ideas you have about how things will be *perfect*.
Of course - only some parents get to do that.
Some parents spend Baby's First Christmas mourning the child they have lost (thank God I can only imagine how painful that would be).
Some parents visit their brand new babies in the hospital and brings gifts there.
Some parents spend the evening at home with their sick, sick babies protecting them from those nasty outside germs that could wreak havoc on immature immune systems.
Our experience on "Baby's First Christmas" is certainly not what we had in mind. We had one baby in the NICU - not knowing when he may make it home - and two sick little preemies at home.
.....After we finish each recording on the camcorder - I immediately transfer it to DVD in case something happens to the tape. This time - I had to go get the old Family DVDs in order to add the recent memories to an older DVD - and we ended up watching quite a lot of old "footage" of the boys.
Isaac and Sullivan both spent 77 days in the NICU and came home two days before Christmas. They brought monitors, were on oxygen, reflux meds, supplements, breathing treatments and needing to be protected from the "outside world" in order to stay healthy... but they were HOME for the holidays. We didn't do the "family rounds" as we usually do. We spent the night at home with just the four of us (though most of the grandparents visited and brought presents in few days following). Not what we would have imagined when I got pregnant - but a very nice time.
Lorne however was still in the hospital. One thing that stuck out most in the video - and nearly made me cry - was that I brought his first stocking up to him. I told him, "Santa was going to visit you here - but your stocking was at home so I told him I'd bring it to you."
I felt horrible. I felt guilty for spending time at the hospital when I could have been at home celebrating with my other two boys - and I felt terrible when I left that Lorne was spending Christmas "alone" in the sterile hospital. We were so very thankful that we had THREE boys with whom to celebrate Christmas that year - but the situation truly seemed like a "lose/lose" situation in that we felt bad no matter what we did.
This year is going to be awesome. Those things are "just" memories and - as hard as they were - I don't think on Christmas Eve while we're making Santa's cookies or Christmas morning while we're opening gifts - we will even look back at "what was" - I am just so excited to see those adorable, ornery, mischevious little faces.
Our next LIVE CHAT is going to be on the holidays... while in the NICU, how to deal with them after losing a child, and traditions to share. Please join us! It will be December 18th at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. (the boys have recently given up naps so I will *try* to be there - who knows if they'll "let" me!!! )
I&S_coming_home
lorne_first_Christmas
Christmas_2005
boys snowflakes 2006
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Posted by McTriplet Mommy | Comments: (11) | Permalink
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ISAAC SINGS THE A, B, SEATS
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Dec 03, 2007 04:40pm (EST)
This is my smartie little guy. My 26 weeker who we didn't know if he would survive. My teeny, tiny little bit who I am taking to endocrinology (Wednesday!!!) because of his growth. My little boy who cruised the furniture for nearly six months before being brave enough to let go. My poor little one who has had a dozen eye surgeries and is legally blind. My sweet little peanut who has been in nearly every therapy imaginable because he's been so delayed.
The giggle at the end is totally worth waiting for.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YcsTfkq6HL4
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Posted by McTriplet Mommy | Comments: (16) | Permalink
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LOOSE ENDS
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Nov 28, 2007 06:32pm (EST)
I feel like I have a lot "out there" that I need to update.... here are a few...
Sorry for any of you I "fooled" with the bedtime post. It wasn't my intention - it was just for humor's sake. Sullivan got his staples taken out Monday and was SUPER brave. He was great through it all - I can't even imagine had it been one of the other two how they would have acted!! If anyone is keeping score - Isaac was the *perp* - my sweet, little, everyone's friend Isaac. Guess he had just had enough!! Honestly - my kids hit each other a hundred times a day with a hundred different things... this one just happened to hit *just right*.
Isaac is potty trained! Seriously - waiting until they are READY is the way to go. Both Isaac and Sullivan were basically trained within a week of starting - because they were both so ready when we started. I have no intentions of starting Lorne for quite a while - but he'll get there. ONE in diapers is a dream!!
Lorne got a new feeding pump about a month ago that he can carry around in a backpack - he is SO proud of it! Seriously -I almost wonder if it was NOT the right way to go - as he is SO excited about his pump! He can now eat while playing, walking, outside... way different than his other one where he was strapped to his booster seat five times a day. It has been a Godsend. Also - his eating is slowwwwwwwwwwly getting there. He will take a bite at almost each meal and chew and swallow it and drinks an ounce or so a day - it takes sometimes half an hour (or more!) to get that ONE bite down but what a HUGE improvement from eating NOTHING. Have to keep telling myself that. Again - he WILL get there. For now - this new Infinity pump has made a world of difference in ALL of our lives as we work towards oral feedings.
Let's see... what else.... Oh! School. They still LOVE it. Not only do they all love their schools - I think they truly love having their "own" classes. It is great. I guess Lorne and Isaac get to do some things together (PT, O&M, recess) but are SO independent. I guess Isaac used to wait for Lorne to get off the bus and they would both hold hands and walk down the hall together (their classes are across from eachother) but now - Isaac doesn't even wait! He's so excited to get to his class that he gets off the bus and makes a b-line for class. And Lorne does great getting to his class on his own. The principal walked by while I was there with Sullivan for speech the other day and she stopped to tell me how great both of my boys are. How sweet they are, how they make her smile... Isaac is a little doll. It is hard NOT to love Isaac. But Lorne is a bit more, um, extreme. To hear her stress how BOTH of my boys make her day... made MY day!!
Oh - and a few weeks ago at church the boys were asked to name their "best friend" to write on a heart for an exercise they were doing in Sunday School. Lorne's heart said "Raymond" and we don't even know anyone named Raymond. They all three have a wild imagination so I thought maybe he just made it up - I asked him about it, "Who is this? Who is your best friend?" "Mrs. Raymond!!" - his preschool teacher. I nearly cried. Guess he's liking school!
Sullivan likes having his own school "no brothers." I asked him about it and he told me it makes him happy to go to "his church school" without his brothers - though it is so clear when they "reunite" at the end of the day that they are happy to see each other. The bus is also going great. I am SO proud of them - I was so worried about how this would go. The *ideal* situation - logistically - would be all three at the same school, obviously. But second to that - this could not possibly be going any better.
Isaac sees endocrinology to discuss his growth (or lack there-of) next week. I'm very nervous!!
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here! I totally get it now. I know why my parents went all out, why they were so dedicated to making everything "perfect" for us kids... I get it. My kids are SO COOL this year. They had fun decorating the tree, they can tell you that Christmas is Baby Jesus' birthday, they recognize Santa on paper and in person. As obnoxious and stressful and absolutely naughty these children can be (trust me!!!) - this is pretty cool.
Mom and I went shopping on "Black Friday". It was crazy. FUN - but totally crazy. Never would have done it "alone" - but it was fun to spend the day with my mom, even if some of that day was in lines and waiting for our crazy deals! Got ALL of my Christmas shopping done before 9:00 a.m. Friday - so THAT was certainly worth it. I'm excited for the boys to open their presents this year - just a few little things and stockings - but, again, they "get it".
Geez - that's all I can think of right now! We've been busy here - I'll admit I've been super, super stressed with these *wonderful* children - day in and day out. Scott's schedule only allows him to be home an hour - at most - of waking time during the day. So it's basically ME 24/7. But we're doing it. Wow - I'm sorry for all of you going through the "terrible twos"... but three is WAY worse. 
Take care, all! Hope everyone is staying happy and healthy! The boys' Christmas pageant at school is Sunday - I can't wait! They are so cute singing their little songs.
Kara
11-25-07 Santa
11-22-07 Thanksgiving
decorating the three 1
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Posted by McTriplet Mommy | Comments: (18) | Permalink
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