A Total Hodge Podge - Part 2

Continuing on with playing catch up...

Some Summer Help

As I mentioned in Part 1 I've been feeling like things here at home and things with the triplets have been suffering a bit as I've entered the final leg of this pregnancy.  We ultimately decided that it would be in the best interest of everyone for us to hire someone to come a few days a week to help out.  I had put out some feelers with a few different people but nothing really seemed to be coming together.

And then one day my phone rang.  It was God!  Ok, not literally of course.  But as far as I'm concerned it was the next best thing and truly heaven sent.  It was a lovely young lady named Kate - a Goshen (Indiana) resident and current GC (Goshen College) student whose family attends the same church as my family.  She had come to Boston for the summer to participate in a summer internship and the part time job she had lined up had fallen through.  SHE was asking ME if I could use some help for the summer.  Though we had never met before she knew I had triplets and thought maybe I needed some help. WHAT?!?!

Kate has been an unbelievable addition to our family this summer.  The kids LOVE her and I wish we could have her 7 days a week (instead of 2).  It will be time for her to return to Goshen a couple weeks after the baby arrives and if it weren't for the fact that Nana will be here by then I honestly don't think we would let her leave!


Lobsta' Fest

Summer time in New England wouldn't be complete without a lobster and steamer (clam) boil (or 2 or 3).  A native mid-westerner, I've come to enjoy these feasts in all their yummy, messy, buttery glory.  The kiddos had their first taste a few weeks ago at a Doyle Family party.  They did rather well all things considered and each of them ate at least 1-2 bites (or more) of both the lobster and clams.  I wouldn't say they LOVED it, but it was definitely a good start.

I'm fortunate to have a husband who enjoys cracking the lobster more then he actually enjoys eating the lobster.  Yummy!  More for me!

Chef Mikie and Uncle PJ

The New Sandbox
This spring Bobby built the kids a sandbox.  I was hesitant.  Very hesitant.  I'm certain I have undiagnosed OCD and the thought of the mess...well, it made me crazy.  He did a great job and the kids love playing in it.  I've worked through most of my issues and have to admit that I absolutely appreciate the hours and hours of happy play time it has brought us (especially these days when I'm thrilled for any excuse to sit back with my feet up and watch them play)!

A few more things to cover.  Stay tuned for 'Part 3'...

A Total Hodge Podge - Part 1

If anyone out there is still checking in with this blog my apologies for my lengthy absence.  This will be a pretty random entry as I attempt to catch up.  Looks like the last post was in April...

Easter
We spent Easter in Wolfeboro, NH at Bobby's Dad's house.  It was a great weekend with plenty of chaos (5 cousins under 3) and lots of fun!

Annie, Eli, Mikie and cousin Connor watch the 'big kids' play ball outside

The cousins (minus Tristan and Sofia - we missed you guys!)

Our best attempt at a family photo

Nana's Visit
Nana came for a nice long visit the end of April.  She spent a lot of time playing with trains and the kids loved having someone at their beck and call.  It's always an adjustment (for all of us) when she leaves and we have to get back to "real life."

New Beds
Annie and Eli have been able to crawl out of their cribs for many, many months now.  We've survived thanks to the crib tents that were recommended to us by other triplet parents.  Wouldn't you know the tents were recalled 1 day before Annie's tent malfunctioned and 4 days before Eli's tent did the same.  After many online "conversations" with our triplet support network we decided to bite the bullet and transition the trio to twin beds.  We knew it was something that needed to be done (especially since we will eventually need one of the cribs for the new baby) but were intimidated at the idea of allowing them so much unsupervised freedom.  While most of their peers are already in 'big kid beds' none of their peers share a bedroom with their 2 best friends AND partners in crime.  As you can imagine there was a major period of adjusting (for them and for us) as they learned to fall asleep despite their new freedom and despite the actions of each other.  It's been several weeks now and I feel like we are back into a groove of good sleeping.  They still party like rock stars for about an hour after we say goodnight but they are safe and happy and always manage to fall asleep in their own beds.

The old...

 Cribs coming down...

We let the kids "help" take the cribs apart and really hyped it up.  They were so excited!!!

Here's what the tents looked like.  What lifesavers they were!

We had to take the murals and window coverings down and remove all the furniture.  The room looks rather bare and I look forward to the day we can hang the murals back up and return the rest of their things.  For now it's all about safety (for them AND their things).

The "new beds" as they call them.  They LOVE their new beds and when we announce that it is bedtime they run up the stairs shouting "new beds, new beds!"  They each got to pick out which color sheets they wanted.  Annie picked pink, Mikie picked blue and Eli picked green.

Baby Update
With only 33 days to go until the scheduled C-section (July 31) I think Bobby and I would both agree and admit that we are still in a little bit of denial.  We're excited, don't get me wrong, and we have been talking, planning and preparing more in the past few weeks but it still doesn't seem real and to be honest we haven't had a lot of free time to really dive into all that needs to be done.  I am most certainly starting to slow down and most days feel like I am barely keeping up with all that needs to be done for the triplets, the house, etc.  Bobby is picking up as much of the slack as he can but that also means that there are things that he is falling behind with (around the house that is - work is going well for him thank goodness).

The pregnancy is going great overall.  I am amazed with how different pretty much everything is as compared to my pregnancy with the triplets.  I've already been pregnant 4 weeks longer then I was with them and I was on bed rest for weeks before they were born.  I'm also amazed with how boring and brief "normal" OB appointments are!

The kids are intrigued with my growing belly.  We talk openly about their baby sister who is sleeping in mommy's tummy and they often give her hugs and kisses and try to offer her toys and books through my belly button.  Annie talks about helping mommy change diapers and feeding the baby her bottles and doesn't understand why I can't "wake her up" so she can hold her.  :-)


I've got a few more things to cover but I think I'll get this much posted for now.  A few closing pics...