Gender Selection

My Children were born through IVF.  That's not a secret.  I tell anyone who asks.  I never mind having a conversation about the miracle that brought me my girls.  That being said, i can get annoyed & snippy very quickly when i feel like my children are being looked at like a science experiment.  I, as much as anyone, have a high regard for medial advancements.  But are we taking it to far?

I read an article in local publication today.  It was about gender selection and was written by my reproductive doctor - the only man who's feet i would kiss if ever asked for any reason.  I was disappointed in him, even though the article was more informational then out right persuasive.  I think about having another baby, and i love the idea of adding a little boy (or 2) to our family.  Gender selection has been suggested to me once or twice by well meaning friends.  The concept actually makes me sick to my stomach. I think people have a right to do what they want with their own bodies, but for me, I can't imagine it. I can't imagine picking which children I should give birth to based on gender. 

taking three 2 year olds for a walk without a stroller is a lot like herding earthworms

I think i got the saying wrong, but the sentiment is right on.   I took the trio for a walk on a local trail today and bravely chose to leave the strollers behind.  We went maybe 500 yards and it felt like i had run a marathon (or, having never run a marathon, i can only imagine).  Jackie decided to lie down in the middle of the path, more then once, Lily picks up every stick she can find, & Lori refuses to take more then a few steps with out demanding to be carried.  All of this would have been a lot to handle with 2 good hands, but since I'm still working with only 1, our walk in the park was anything but.
I keep waiting for the day when they have all learned to listen & follow direction.  I think i may be waiting a while, but i have time.  I remind myself all the time that if they weren't behaving this way i would worry.  They are perfectly normal toddlers.  THREE perfectly normal toddlers.
Then Lori has to take the stick that Lily found & lily cries.  Jackie spotted flowers & Jackie has to smell them (ie.  pull the flowers apart).  I try & stand in the middle & make sure that no child is to far from me.  It's a full time job.  My girls have no fear - a trait that makes me crazy, but also jealous.  It's so hard to relax through the worry, but i need to try harder, to remind myself a little more often, to let them help me see the world through their eyes.

it's not nice to fool with a librarian

Want to throw of a 90 year old librarian?  Show up for story time with a different kid then the one you registered.  Ohh no, no name tag!!!  I thought maybe they didn't have any more, maybe it was an involved process, i know, she seemed so upset about it & i really didn't care if my kid had a name tag or not.  When she finally wrapped her head around the fact that we were there, name tag or not, she got another little laminated fish & wrote LORI on it.  I almost laughed out loud.  That was all it took.  She was actually really apologetic after that, i think she felt bad about being so rude in the beginning, i guess she had just never encountered triplets before.  
My girls turned 2 in December & since then, I've been trying to get them out individually for some one on one time.  While i love that they love each other & like to be together, i also recognize that they need the chance to develop individually.  Hence, story time.  It's nearby, it's free, & it's only 40 minutes.  I would have been happy to take each girl to a different time slot, but there or only 2 time slots.  My solution was to register for both & just rotate who i take.  The whole name tag thing never even crossed my mind!  Guess I'll just have to chalk this up to another parental learning experience. 

one hand down

Mama broke her right hand.  This does not bode well.  If i thought i was lacking before, i am way behind now.  And they know it!  They sense weakness.  On the upside, since I'm right handed, this has put me out of work for a while.  Unfortunately it's very hard to change a diaper or dress a wiggly toddler with only one hand.  If it were my right hand i might have a chance, but in this case i am just sunk.   I am so grateful to my wonderful friends & family who have jumped in to help.  It's been a little hard for me to give up the tiny bit of control i have left since the babies took over my life, but I'm managing.  I started this blog with good intentions, but unfortunately typing is yet another thing that is difficult to do with only one had.  Hopefully as i recover i will post more.

napetime revisited

I don't how it works in your house, but in mine, "napping" is code for "mommy needs a break".  Since we transitioned from cribs to beds, napping only occurs every couple of days.    Still, everyday at about 2 o'clock i heard my trio up the stairs & in to their bedroom.  They get into bed & pretend they are going to sleep & i pretend right along with them.  Monday through Friday i quickly get ready to leave for work & weekends i rush around trying to clean the never ending mess that has become my house.  They don't sleep, but for about 2 hours i listen to my girls play, talk, & fight.  Only very occasionally do i have to go in and break up a fight.  I love that they can usually work things out on their own.  as they get older the words have come.  They call out for each other, they sing, they count.  They are learning to express themselves, unguided & unlimited.  And sometimes, at the end of all that, they pass out.  One sprawled out in the middle of the room, another one with her foot sticking out from under a bed, the third might actually be in bed.
If all of this sounds exhausting, it is.  But it's also wonderful & i wouldn't trade it for the world.  And after their "nap", i am refreshed & ready to explore the world with my girls.