My Ode to Motherhood...a little late.

Better late than never, right? I am SO behind it is ridiculous. But it is for an EXTREMELY good reason! Two weeks ago we ventured into a land of the unknown. The land of sleep. To be exact...the land of 12 hours of sleeping!!! My sweet babies must really love me because they gave me the best gift EVER. That's right...7 pm to 7 am. It is fantastic. But, to get it done we had to adjust their bottle times during the day which means I'm feeding them 3 times during the day by myself instead of just 2. My busy day just got a whole lot busier. It was a bit of an adjustment, but it's getting a lot easier. But, on to my first Mother's Day.

As I sit here, over a week late, I ponder what it is exactly I have learned in the last year. Am I any smarter? Do I now possess skills and talents that I did not have before? Have I actually become superhuman? How am I different today than I was before I was a Mom. So, of course, I compiled a list...


Things I have learned from being a mother (original title, huh?)

Yes, I am indeed superhuman. I formed three perfect babies, stretched my super-elastic skin, and survived months of solitude. I have done things most have not. Looking back I am amazed. I also never wish to go through any of it again. Most Extreme Pregnancy is not for everyone. I am overjoyed at the outcome, but I would be an idiot do want to do it again.



I am the ultimate multitasker. I can feed, burp, change, and diaper three babies in under 30 minutes. I can do all of these things while drinking a cup of coffee and talking on the phone. I could probably also balance a plate on my head, but I have not tried this yet. I can then spend the next hour entertaining three babies. This may include: Tummy time, acting like a total goof time, exersaucer/jumperoo time, or basically anything and everything that will keep them busy. I can then rock and put three babies down for a nap. I can pack and organize an impromptu trip to the lake, to a restaurant, or to the mall and only forget one or two things. I am every woman...and probably 3 men as well. Go on, you try it, see if you can do it.



I may be slightly schizophrenic. There are days that I relish in my skills and abilities. They are sleeping through the night, they nap well, they are eating great, they are the happiest and smiliest babies ever! These days are often followed by days in which I question everything... Am I doing this right? We have what I term a "jailbreak" day. Nobody is napping, everybody is grumpy (including me), the house is in complete chaos, and I have quite obviously lost control of the entire situation. Luckily, there are way more good days than bad. Even when there are bad days, the good can still be found in a smile, a laugh, or a hot shower.


I am adventurous. O.K., not in the roller-coaster, zip-line, dare-devil way. More like... Taking three babies to public places by myself. This is an adventure sport I assure you.

Organization is truly the key. Schedule...Schedule...Schedule... I love my Schedule!!! You must know where things are at all times. You must be able to grab the things you need at a moments notice. You must not deviate from your plan. Do not be afraid when a day goes awry...chart the overall trend and you will see things getting incrementally better. That being said...you must also concede the losses and know when to call it quit. Not every plan comes to fruition but as long as I can at least figure out what does NOT work...all is not lost.

No matter how smart I am, they may be smarter. Or...am I just dumb from being overworked and under slept? Or...just when I think I have it all figured out they go and change the rules on me. This applies to: Pooping, sleeping, eating, crying, etc.



This is a job. Let me repeat...THIS IS A JOB. A 24-hour per day job with no sick days. People yell at you at the top of their lungs for no good reason. You have to wipe butts. You are neck-deep in bodily fluids of all types. There are many, many strange smells. (Sounds strangely like a nursing home, but isn't.) I should apply to be on the show Dirtiest Jobs for sure.

You get bonus points for creativity. You prop bottles when you have to...with things like rolled up towels, or ankles, or another baby's foot. Whatever works at the time. Sometimes you have to burp 3 babies at one time. Which can be done. It does, however, usually end up with spit-up on your back, on your leg, or down your shirt. It is also possible to carry three babies at once. It is probably not entirely safe, especially when descending stairs. You will line babies up and howl like a coyote, bark like a dog, or sing and dance like Janet Jackson to keep them happy for the next 15 minutes until it is time for them to eat. I have done all of these things. If there were cameras in my house I would also be up for America's Funniest Home Videos.



There will be days when you feel extremely unappreciated. Why? I don't know. Probably because you look around and the only other people there don't really speak English yet to tell you how great you are. Thank goodness they finally start to smile and laugh at you. If it weren't for that you would all be sunk.



However difficult something may seem at first it will quickly become doable, if by necessity alone. I thought it would be impossible to take care of them by myself, but I did. I thought they would never eat an entire bottle without falling asleep half way through, but they did. I thought they would never drop the 2 am feed, but they did (arguing the entire way). I was scared to death to take them anywhere by myself, but I did it. I thought they would never sleep through the night, but they are. I'm learning that while I am an extremely impatient person and want things to happen NOW, it is better to just relax-stay on my course, and let things work out as they should. Oh yeah, it doesn't hurt to say a prayer or two...or four hundred. It also doesn't hurt to crawl under the sheets and hide every once in a while.



Peace and quiet is a dream you will be chasing for the next 18 years. It can all turn on a dime. The tranquility of three babies slumbering away during their afternoon nap is just simply not something you can count on. It doesn't matter if you peek in on them and they are clearly DEAD ASLEEP. The second you run sprinter-speed down the stairs, strip down while running through the living room, and attempt to take a shower...they know. Just like they know when you try to catch a quick cat nap on the couch. They just know. This is their cue for ALL HELL TO BREAK LOOSE. But, just as soon as you don't take a shower... a neighbor shows up to talk.



Sometimes they cry. Sometimes it is for no reason at all, and sometimes it is because they need something but you can't get to them right now because you are tending to another baby. I had to make peace with this. As a mother you want to instantly satisfy and pacify your crying child. I cannot always do this with three babies and it can be stressful and sad. There have been times when we are all crying. Is this o.k.? I don't know. It just has to be for us. We are not an attachment parenting style household. We are a schedule-following, parent-led, dictatorship around here. I do the very best that I can and if their current condition is any testament to my skills, I am doing a fantastic job. This does not mean that I don't constantly worry and question my parenting skills...but doesn't everybody?


Happy, well-balanced, loving parents raise good kids. I know because I am the product of such a household, as is Brian. We're just passing it on. We are so well-balanced because our families allow us to have nights out for dinner or to see friends, stay the night to give us extra help (or to let us sleep in), and go on vacation. They also come over and do a load of laundry, vacuum the floor, wash bottles and dishes, and help install TVs. Not bad, huh? I will say it again... There is just no way we could be pulling this whole operation off without A LOT of help. Thank you each and every one of you a million times over. These babies are as much yours as ours and I want you all to enjoy every second of this.



Humor is the key. So is a positive attitude. Teamwork. A whole lot of hope and ingenuity helps as well. A talent to remember the bad parts but hold on to the good. Throw in a pinch of solidarity and presto! It all works. Beautifully.



There are probably many other things I could list, but I think these will be enough for today. This has been a year of one million firsts for us all. The past years have been a bit monotonous for us. We've been working on building a nest egg, our careers, and living the American dream. This past year has been one of change, growth, and learning. I expect to see more of the same in the coming years. This is all new to me. I am learning along the way. As long as some days may seem, they all seem to be flying by. All of the sudden they are six months old! Sometimes the days are so busy I get scared I'm missing out on the little things. Sometimes the changes are so fast I can't believe it.



The state of the union is indeed good around here. The state of this Mom is spectacular. I never like to do things the practical or easy way. I guess this is no different. This is definitely not the easy way. I would say it is the fun way, however. It is the daredevil way, don't you think?



So, how DID I spend my Mother's Day?

I slept in...

I got an special gift from my Mom (the artist).... She drew and framed a collage of the babies. She took the images from pictures we have taken along the way...all the way back to their birth. It was the most amazing gift I have ever received.

I hung out with the most spectacular Moms I know...who graced me with their company.

Oh yeah, I also hung out with the coolest triplets I know...

I kissed some big fat cheeks.....



And some big fat chins...

Got my hair pulled....
And...put on a big girly bow!