Thursday, September 14, 2006
Who is Winston?
I called Vaughn "Winston" tonight. Who is Winston. I don't even know a Winston. I'm losing it.
Pictures
Jaden - Tiny & Beautiful
Gavin in a walker for the first time. At Grandma's.
Lincoln in a Bumbo for the first time.
Gavin sleeping on Lincoln.
Gavin in a walker for the first time. At Grandma's.
Lincoln in a Bumbo for the first time.
Gavin sleeping on Lincoln.
How Does He Do It?
This is a picture of the boys in the back of the van...from July.
I picked up the girls from day care today.
After loading all the kids into the van with some help from Eric...I drove home and unloaded them all by myself:
Trip One: A half-way-sleeping Lucy
Trip Two: Grace and a Diaper Bag
Trip Three: Vaughn and Gavin
Trip Four: Lincoln
Trip Five: My purse and stuff from work
Trip Six: Just out to the mail box for the mail and a couple of packages
How does Jamie do it twice a day...every day? Loading and unloading five 15 - 30 pound children. I'm sore.
I am now beat. Vaughn is crying and wants fed. Lucy wants me to put in a movie. Vaughn is crying. Grace wants milk and crackers. Lucy also wants milk and crackers now. Vaughn is crying...did I mention that? No movie. Milk. Crackers. Bottle for Vaughn. While feeding Vaughn reinforcements arrive...thanks Joanne! Gracie to bed. All babies fed and changed. Mommy and Lucy to Walmart for supplies for Gracie's birthday party. Extra stop at Hy-vee - forgot the icing for the cupcakes. We all know I'm not MAKING icing! Lucy asleep by the time we get home. Joanne reports that Gracie was poopy. Vaughn was fussy almost the entire time. Had to move the babies because the contractors dropped a hammer into the window and she was afraid it would come through on them. Gracie and mommy unload groceries. Mommy blogs. The end.
I picked up the girls from day care today.
After loading all the kids into the van with some help from Eric...I drove home and unloaded them all by myself:
Trip One: A half-way-sleeping Lucy
Trip Two: Grace and a Diaper Bag
Trip Three: Vaughn and Gavin
Trip Four: Lincoln
Trip Five: My purse and stuff from work
Trip Six: Just out to the mail box for the mail and a couple of packages
How does Jamie do it twice a day...every day? Loading and unloading five 15 - 30 pound children. I'm sore.
I am now beat. Vaughn is crying and wants fed. Lucy wants me to put in a movie. Vaughn is crying. Grace wants milk and crackers. Lucy also wants milk and crackers now. Vaughn is crying...did I mention that? No movie. Milk. Crackers. Bottle for Vaughn. While feeding Vaughn reinforcements arrive...thanks Joanne! Gracie to bed. All babies fed and changed. Mommy and Lucy to Walmart for supplies for Gracie's birthday party. Extra stop at Hy-vee - forgot the icing for the cupcakes. We all know I'm not MAKING icing! Lucy asleep by the time we get home. Joanne reports that Gracie was poopy. Vaughn was fussy almost the entire time. Had to move the babies because the contractors dropped a hammer into the window and she was afraid it would come through on them. Gracie and mommy unload groceries. Mommy blogs. The end.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
2 Nights in a Row
They did it!! The boys have slept from the time we put them to bed (around 9 pm) until 6 am without Jamie or I needing to get up even once to put a pacifier in their mouth!! Donna Steve and Kim came over Monday night and entertained all the children while Jamie and I cleaned in the basement and took stuff to Goodwill. Jackie and Jean came over last night and watched the boys and a sleeping Lucy while Jamie, Grace and I dropped off clothes at the Gubser's and went to Fareway. The trick is keeping the boys awake until we put them to bed at night. Duh! I know. We'll see if Jamie and I can continue that little trick on our own :O)
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
OK That's it!
I asked Lucy why she didn't put the box of crackers away like I asked her to. Her response, "I didn't have time to put them away." (This is as she's playing with her dolls.)
I obviously use that excuse way too much. That's it! I have got to quit focusing on "time" and doing useless stuff. I need to focus more on my children and loving them.
I obviously use that excuse way too much. That's it! I have got to quit focusing on "time" and doing useless stuff. I need to focus more on my children and loving them.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Pictures
Lucy, Vaughn, Grace, Gavin
Lucy blowing bubbles at the West Liberty Children's Festival
Gracie jumping off the bed (we missed the shots where she was skydiving off the bed.)
Lucy blowing bubbles at the West Liberty Children's Festival
Gracie jumping off the bed (we missed the shots where she was skydiving off the bed.)
What's up?
So far it looks like 3 of the kids may be getting sick. Lucy and Grace are starting to cough and have runny noses. Vaughn was congested all night and couldn't sleep. Hoping that it continues to be runny noses and a little congestion. I dread the thought of having to take care of 5 sick kids.
Planning Gracie's 2nd birthday party. Sesame Street theme. I love planning parties. So much fun.
I don't know what it is but the girls seem to be getting cuter and cuter by the second. Gracie's thing lately is to try to get the boys to laugh. She loves to bury her face in their bellies or play peek a boo with them...or tickle them (kee coal kee coal kee coal (tickle tickle tickle)). When Lucy is not fighting with Grace, she is mothering her and everything else in sight. She has lots of dolls that she likes to give baths, have picnics with, watch tv and just take care of. Usually she names them Kenna or Sophia. When Gracie cries Lucy tries to comfort her which usually involves someone getting hurt.
Friday night the daredevil girls were jumping off the bed onto the pile of blankets I pulled off the bed as I was changing sheets. Jamie and I are certain that Grace is fearless. Lucy would jump feet first into the blankets. Grace was doing some skydiving moves. She jump, bend her knees behind her and bring her arms up and out to the side - landing flat on her belly/face into the blankets. Uncle Jason would be so proud. (www.archwayskydiving.com)
The boys continue developing personalities. Lincoln is the most alert and loves to chat. When Vaughn smiles, he smiles with his whole body. His arms and legs start moving and he gets this huge grin. Gavin is just Gavin. Always happy, always smiling. Very laid back.
Went to the West Liberty Children's Festival and then to CoralRidge Mall yesterday. We had a good time. I really don't mind, and actually enjoy all the attention the boys bring. As we walked down the mall yesterday, I pointed out to Jamie how you can watch people and when they see the boys their faces light up and get this huge smile. I can't tell you how many people have said we've made their day. Yesterday a 100 year old lady and her daughter stopped to look at the boys while we were sitting outside playland. The mom said that in her 100 years she's NEVER seen triplets. She was smiling from ear to ear. I'll admit though that yesterday I was tired. I wanted to get the kids out of the already messy house and let them burn off some energy without destroying the house even more. I wanted to have some family time. I wanted to go away and not have to be "on". I didn't want to have to tell everyone and their brother that yes, we have three boys. Yes, we have our hands full. No triplets don't run in our family, we did invitro. No, I'm not breastfeeding them. Yes, we knew we were having triplets from the beginning. Sweetly explain the differences of each child rather than say what I'm really thinking...which is - "to tell them apart I just look at them". Etc, Etc, Etc. But, even though we don't always feel like talking to a million people, we do. And it reminds me that this is how it's meant to be...not just now...but it's how it should have always been for us. Every time we leave our home, as christians we SHOULD be "on". Every time we leave our home we see so many people that do not know Jesus. These triplets have been the best excuse in the world for us to share God's love. Jamie and I get so caught up in every day life...and in our family...that sometimes we forget the reason we are on this earth. It's not to worship our family but to worship God the Creator and Giver of Life. Just open your eyes and look and you will see the pain in this world. I've never seen it as much as I have with these boys. People are begging for an excuse to connect. My heart aches right now so badly just thinking of all the people we've met these past few months who are hurting.
Lucy just handed me a scribbled a piece of paper. She said it was a letter for me. She read it to me and it said, "Dear Mommy, Thank you for coming to us. Dear Mommy. The end." :) Now she's going over to "Angie's" house. Playing with her dolls again. I have been listening to the girls destroy the house while I sit here and type. Oh well. Some days I don't think it can get much worse so who cares anyway. I've been thinking a lot lately though about how sorry I would feel for the people who would have to go through and clean out our house if Jamie and I got in a freak accident and died. But then I think that I'd be dead so who cares.
Ok...I suppose that is enough of the ramblings in my brain for one day. I feel like most days lately I walk through life without a complete thought in my head. Sometimes it takes me 5 or 6 times to get through a short article in the newspaper. Or I start to make myself something for lunch and get distracted so many times that it's 3 or 4 before I actually eat. Usually blogging is my only time that I try not to let anything distract me. I WANT to remember these days when the kids are so little. But as everyone who knows me well knows...I have the worst memory in the world. I need to clear out the junk and make room for the good stuff.
Planning Gracie's 2nd birthday party. Sesame Street theme. I love planning parties. So much fun.
I don't know what it is but the girls seem to be getting cuter and cuter by the second. Gracie's thing lately is to try to get the boys to laugh. She loves to bury her face in their bellies or play peek a boo with them...or tickle them (kee coal kee coal kee coal (tickle tickle tickle)). When Lucy is not fighting with Grace, she is mothering her and everything else in sight. She has lots of dolls that she likes to give baths, have picnics with, watch tv and just take care of. Usually she names them Kenna or Sophia. When Gracie cries Lucy tries to comfort her which usually involves someone getting hurt.
Friday night the daredevil girls were jumping off the bed onto the pile of blankets I pulled off the bed as I was changing sheets. Jamie and I are certain that Grace is fearless. Lucy would jump feet first into the blankets. Grace was doing some skydiving moves. She jump, bend her knees behind her and bring her arms up and out to the side - landing flat on her belly/face into the blankets. Uncle Jason would be so proud. (www.archwayskydiving.com)
The boys continue developing personalities. Lincoln is the most alert and loves to chat. When Vaughn smiles, he smiles with his whole body. His arms and legs start moving and he gets this huge grin. Gavin is just Gavin. Always happy, always smiling. Very laid back.
Went to the West Liberty Children's Festival and then to CoralRidge Mall yesterday. We had a good time. I really don't mind, and actually enjoy all the attention the boys bring. As we walked down the mall yesterday, I pointed out to Jamie how you can watch people and when they see the boys their faces light up and get this huge smile. I can't tell you how many people have said we've made their day. Yesterday a 100 year old lady and her daughter stopped to look at the boys while we were sitting outside playland. The mom said that in her 100 years she's NEVER seen triplets. She was smiling from ear to ear. I'll admit though that yesterday I was tired. I wanted to get the kids out of the already messy house and let them burn off some energy without destroying the house even more. I wanted to have some family time. I wanted to go away and not have to be "on". I didn't want to have to tell everyone and their brother that yes, we have three boys. Yes, we have our hands full. No triplets don't run in our family, we did invitro. No, I'm not breastfeeding them. Yes, we knew we were having triplets from the beginning. Sweetly explain the differences of each child rather than say what I'm really thinking...which is - "to tell them apart I just look at them". Etc, Etc, Etc. But, even though we don't always feel like talking to a million people, we do. And it reminds me that this is how it's meant to be...not just now...but it's how it should have always been for us. Every time we leave our home, as christians we SHOULD be "on". Every time we leave our home we see so many people that do not know Jesus. These triplets have been the best excuse in the world for us to share God's love. Jamie and I get so caught up in every day life...and in our family...that sometimes we forget the reason we are on this earth. It's not to worship our family but to worship God the Creator and Giver of Life. Just open your eyes and look and you will see the pain in this world. I've never seen it as much as I have with these boys. People are begging for an excuse to connect. My heart aches right now so badly just thinking of all the people we've met these past few months who are hurting.
Lucy just handed me a scribbled a piece of paper. She said it was a letter for me. She read it to me and it said, "Dear Mommy, Thank you for coming to us. Dear Mommy. The end." :) Now she's going over to "Angie's" house. Playing with her dolls again. I have been listening to the girls destroy the house while I sit here and type. Oh well. Some days I don't think it can get much worse so who cares anyway. I've been thinking a lot lately though about how sorry I would feel for the people who would have to go through and clean out our house if Jamie and I got in a freak accident and died. But then I think that I'd be dead so who cares.
Ok...I suppose that is enough of the ramblings in my brain for one day. I feel like most days lately I walk through life without a complete thought in my head. Sometimes it takes me 5 or 6 times to get through a short article in the newspaper. Or I start to make myself something for lunch and get distracted so many times that it's 3 or 4 before I actually eat. Usually blogging is my only time that I try not to let anything distract me. I WANT to remember these days when the kids are so little. But as everyone who knows me well knows...I have the worst memory in the world. I need to clear out the junk and make room for the good stuff.
Friday, September 08, 2006
You Know You're Tired When:
It's the middle of the night and you tell your wife to take care of the baby that's crying because you've already got two in bed with you. Then you "come to" and realize you're holding pillows.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
The Mark Family Cradle
This cradle was given to my Great Great Grandma Hilda Baker when she was born in 1880. It has been passed down through the generations and everyone in the Mark family has slept in it...all five of my children, me, my brothers and sisters and their children, my dad and his brothers and sisters and their children...you get the idea. The name of every person who has slept in it is wood burned on the bottom.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Gracie in the Rain
Gracie decided she likes rain. She's imitating Lucy running up and down the sidewalk.
Lucy's First Day of Preschool
Lucy was a little stressed. Jamie asked her to stand up and smile and this was the response he got.
But things got better:
But things got better:
Trying to calm three at once.
Although two are sleeping in this picture...at one point they were all fussing and Jamie was taking care of the girls...so I was trying to hold and calm them all.
Long Weekend
Don and Donna: The Step Great-Grandparents
We destroyed Jamie's folks' house...but we cleaned it before we left.
Saturday we went to Burlington and spent the night at Jamie's folks' house. On the way we stopped at my mom's to let the kids meet their step great-grandparents: Dona Don and Donna. Then we ate Jamie's favorite lunch: Maid-Rite Tacos. Jamie's parents were in St. Louis visiting his sister and her family - so we had the house to ourselves for the night. We took the pack n play outside for the boys, and the girls played on the swingset and ran through the yard. As I sit here listening to cars squeal by, I miss the quietness of their neighborhood. Saturday night we grilled out. It was nice to be in a clean house (which we destroyed and spent Sunday cleaning). Everything just seemed peaceful. Monday we went to the mall and then to my sister's house for dinner.
Friday, September 01, 2006
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Lucy's Special Day
Today there was an open house at preschool for Lucy. She loved it. I had to drag her away. Met both of her teachers. I think she will cry for a couple days but then be ok. After the open house, I told her I was going to take her to lunch. She wanted to go to "the store" to eat...meaning Hy-Vee. I told her it was her special day so she could eat wherever she wanted. As we pulled into Walmart she said, "Yeah, and it's my special day so I can stay in here." (Meaning she wanted to stay in the van while I went into Walmart.) Nice try.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
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