Hi, Friends and Family,
The name of our family blog spot is Gus, Kate and Claire: Life with triplets...the fun has just begun! That name has never been more appropriate than it is right now...
During the past few months, I have gone from being the mother of three infants, to being the mother of three almost 18 month old TODDLERS. Wow! They walk, run, climb, hit, bite, hug, give kisses, chase the dachshunds, blow slobber on the windows, do things to try to make their dad and I laugh at them, love wagon rides and running amuck in the pasture, ask for snacks, climb into cabinets, demolish the play area in a matter of 60 seconds -- flat. If you have ever had a toddler, then, you know the drill. LOL!
I have to say, the infant phase of raising triplets was tiring, but blissful and relatively easy for me most of the time. I had it down pat -- or so I thought. I forgot that my home would soon be turned into "Toddlerville", a blessed, wonderful, chaotic, funny, overwhelming, sweet, loving, fun, exhausting, busy place to be...
One thing that I have been learning the hard way as I do my best to raise my little ones is that I am no longer independent. I need help -- lots of help -- and almost on a daily basis (although I do not have help on a daily basis...I'm not independently wealthy LOL). It has become a family affair just for me to go to the grocery store, go to a doctor's appointment (mine or Gus, Kate and Claire's), get my hair cut, etc. In the summer months, I can load-up Gus, Kate, Claire and their wagon and make a quick Wal-Mart/Target run for a couple of items. But, in the winter months, that's just not possible. They do not need to be out in the cold drizzle around sick people, so, I wait for them to go to bed at night and then go run my errands after Chad is home. And, God forbid if I am sick or if one of the babies happens to be sick...it's all hands on deck. I got sick with what I really believe was H1N1 back in September. At the same time, Gus had an upper respiratory infection, Kate and Claire both had ear infections. Kate also got Roseola right on the heels of the ear infection, and I was so weak and faint that I nearly passed out while I had one of my little ones on the changing table. It was the most helpless, frustrating, overwhelming feeling to not be able to care for my own little ones. Chad had to come home from work. Chad's mom had to take days off from work. They were caring for my sick babies while I was drifting in and out of sleep and sweated down with fever. I am thankful that I have family to help me in those times of need. But, what mother does not want to be with her sick child? God has been working with me on releasing this need to be independent and in almost constant control of my surroundings here at home for quite some time. Thankfully, He is a very patient God, even though I am a very stubborn child!
Of course, illnesses aside, safety in general is a top priority around here. Chad and I are both finding it more and more difficult to keep our little ones safe, especially when we are here with them alone (only one of us). Our house has been stripped bare of anything that they could fall off of or that could fall on them. Anything that could poison, suffocate, impale, electrocute, etc., is no longer around or has been moved to a higher location. Shades are pulled-up. Select doors are kept closed. Baby gates and outlet covers have become the best inventions ever. Even on a good day, I need two of me just to keep them safe. I feel like I am always in a state of HIGH ALERT. Most moms wish they had a clone on most days. I don't think that's unique to moms of multiples! LOL! I always feel that I am in perpetual "head count" mode. LOL!
Yesterday, I ran into a sweet, dear friend that I had not seen in quite some time. This friend is so pure, so kind, so loving and truly radiates the love of God in all that she does. She has truly given every aspect of her life to Him, and it shows. We had a quick visit at a local supermarket, and she said in her sweet, Indian accent, "Being a mother is a wonderful blessing, but it can be so tiring and overwhelming." When she said that, my tears started to flow...tears that I have held back for months. She said what was on my heart, and I didn't have to say a word. My tears said it all. She knew she was right, and she gave me a big hug and promised to continue to pray for me. True friendship...what an amazing blessing.
Just the day before the supermarket encounter, another friend gave me a beautiful James Avery "motherhood" ring for my birthday. She hugged me and told me she thinks I am a good mom. Wow...I needed the hug. I needed the love and encouragement. Now, the ring is such a sweet reminder of the love and care that my friend expressed to me.
So, yes, I am feeling overwhelmed. I am feeling exhausted, tense and tired (most days, I am wiped out by noon, and it is still almost six hours until Chad comes home). But, I also feel blessed and happy to have these three delightful, funny, sweet, loving, busy toddlers. Such an emotional roller coaster! In the past, I have felt that I could not be honest here on my blog about these feelings of being a mom to three toddlers because it seemed that my honesty about feeling tired or having a bad day only brought comments like, "Be careful what you pray for...you wanted kids, and now you have them." Or, "But you have so much to be thankful for...it could always be worse." Receiving comments like these made it hard for me to be honest or vulnerable. And, I want to be honest and vulnerable with you, my friends. This is so important, especially when my blog is about family life/faith. I feel that it is important to share the ups, downs, joys, trials of raising triplets here because what I am going through just might help some other mom feel that she is not alone. Just because I am having a bad day or feeling tired does not mean that I do not want my children or that I want to go back to my life before kids or that my heart is not filled with gratitude to the Good Lord for my husband, children, friends and family or that I cannot see that I am beyond blessed. It just means that I am tired and overwhelmed for the moment and that I need a loving friend or family member to listen to me. I do not want my human emotions to be mistaken for ingratitude or whininess...
If you choose to continue to follow this blog, I might make you laugh. I might make you cry. I might even make you mad. And, that's all okay. I mainly just want other moms to know that they are not alone in the joys and sometimes trials of raising little ones...
If I have given the false impression in the past that I have it all together or that I am "Supermom", I am sorry, because that is just not the truth. No one has it all together, really. We are all just doing the best that we can...
Blessings to you and yours and much love to you all.
Leslie, mom to Gus (Climber Extraordinaire), Kate (Helper Extraordinaire) and Claire (Talker Extraordinaire)
P.S. The above picture from left to right with new sippy cups and shades: Kate, Claire and Gus in his new Romo jersey. This was just taken New Year's Day.
