Raking leaves never looked so good!

Funny how something so simple as raking leaves can seem like such a pain-in-the-rear task.  After doing the "chores" (aka feeding the chicken herd), I found the rake in the pump house and thought "no time like the present." 
I used to dread raking leaves.  I'd look at them through the windows and think if I just left them there a while longer the wind would carry them away.  That never happened and finally after it rained or snowed, I'd try to gather what I could, cursing under my breath knowing that I should have been doing this long before they were a wet mess...as I did the year before, and the year before that, and so on.
I have to say that this years raking was actually a happy experience.  Happy, you ask?  Well, yes.  I was happy to have a break and be outside in the fresh air.  I was happy to be physically able to do something as simple as rake leaves.  And I was happy to rake my yard which surrounded my house which provided warmth and shelter for my family. 
It's not until we go through an experience and find ourselves truly at the mercy of God and others that we learn to appreciate the joy of being able to do simple daily tasks.  Being confined to bedrest for weeks on end and having to trust the survival of your babies to others reminds a person that when it comes down to it, we really don't have much say in the what happens in our lives.  It's not until we are unable to do things that we realize how much we miss them, and take them for granted.  I have a more positive and grateful perspective on life now.  The little things like doing dishes, folding laundry, feeding the chickens and yes, raking leaves, is now part of my happy place.  Sounds silly but it's true and I hope I'm able to rake leaves for many years to come!

You might be a triplet mom if...

..."time for yourself" means cleaning the toilet.
...you think about taping kleenex on 3 little runny noses to help catch boogers.
...going to Walmart is your outing for the week.
...you plan your Sundays around Jerseylicious and Real Housewives of New Jersey, and you're not afraid to admit it.
...date night consists of doctored up frozen pizza, diet beer and sharing the remote.

An Evening of Miracles...

The babies and I recently attended St. Luke's NICU Graduate Picnic in Boise.  Although there were sounds of laughter, happy smiles and children of all ages having fun, there was a bittersweet feeling in the air.  Parents like myself, who at one time thought we had control of our lives until life told us otherwise, cast reassuring looks at eachother as if to say, "I know where you've been, I understand, and life goes on, one way or another."  Everywhere you looked there were miracles...children like mine, alive today because of modern medicine.
Some NICU stories end up with joyful endings, like ours.  Our babies left the NICU with a clean bill of health and without any physical/mental issues, negative long term effects from surgeries/medicines/treatments or any developmental issues (knock on wood).
Others were not so fortunate and as I talked to the parents of these children, I felt almost embarassed that my babies were "normal".  I saw a family that had been at the Ronald McDonald house while I was there.  Their twin boys, Aaron and Logan, were born at 27 weeks (2 lb/ea.) and were in the neighboring room in the NICU.  I remember visiting the boys, whose cries sounded like wimpers and wondering how something so small could be so strong and survive surgery.  Now, 10 months later, they're crawling, getting into things and giving overwhelming joy to their parents.  They've come a long ways and still have a ways to go, but they are here. 
Then there was another mother I had spent time with in the hospital and I learned she was not able to bring her baby home from the NICU...ever.  I think my heart broke at that point.  Once again, I thanked God for all my blessings.
Seeing the faces of former NICU patients and their families puts everything into perspective.  I used to be bad at dwelling on the past or worrying about what might happen tomorrow, but after experiencing "life in the NICU", it's all about today.  Love your family, hug your children, be happy and smile because in the end, today is all we have.

A world of thanks...

Ignorance is bliss, or so I've been told.  I learned first hand the meaning of those words when I went from no kids to three at once.  Some days it's just that...bliss, and some days it's a rodeo but I'm thankful to have been blessed with three healthy, beautiful, lovable, happy babies.  I'm also grateful for all the love and support I've received and continue to receive.  I couldn't do this without you!



Grandma (Mom)









Aunty Shawna




Aunty Katie




Aunty Linda




Grandma J






Grandma Gurnsey




Grandpa (Dad)



Aunty Sherrie



Aunty Sharon




Grandma Penny



Patty and Jay

Grandpa Clark



Aunt Geege




Grandma Maria




Grandpa Bert




Aunty Linda




Kenny




Uncle Ryno




Pastor and Carol Williams




Aunt Sherry



Aunty Julie



Uncle Bill



Uncle Mike

 

Cousin Malia



Cousin Chad



Gale and Elsie















You might be a triplet mom...

...if a trifecta has nothing to do with horse racing and everything to do with pooh.
...if the only thongs you care about wearing are the ones on your feet.
...if a night out sounds like a lot of work.