The Split of My Angels....Not Yours

I did it. I split my kids up in daycare. They go to school/childcare/daycare 1 day a week. The director of the center called last week asking if we could move Brian up into a more advanced class. I must say it took me my surprise.

I decided I would not dwell on this transition. I knew it would be rocky, more for Brian than the others. Brian and Bralee are extremely attached. I suppose it is good that they are being separated at this point than later.

I stood outside the door of Brian's classroom and listened to him cry. Yes, I was out of sight. The teacher would try and distract him. He would kick,start crying harder and run back to the door. I held strong and he finally calmed himself after about 20 minutes.

I went to pick the kids up and was surprised with the report. They did not allow Brian to sleep next to Bralee either. When the kids did meet up in the “gross motor” room the teachers said, “it was like a joyous reunion.” I can imagine. When we separate them on overnight stays, it is as well.

Here is the GREAT punch line. They also stated that Joseph preformed better in Brian’s absence! Although on the other hand was a bully toward Bralee!?!
Let me just state this up front. They only have 2 classrooms. My 3rd child will not be sitting in the hallway! 

This evening, since being at home, Brian and Bralee have been inseparable! Loving, kissing and hugging on one another. Joseph on the other hand, has bitten Brian and kicked Bralee!

I am thankful for the separation. They can learn to perform amongst their peers as individuals and not as "The Triplets."

My Angels….Not Yours
Even though that child may not be an angel in your eyes and for the most part far from an “angel.” You, yourself will never truly know what that parent has watched that child fight through, for, or against to be where they are today. Therefore in their eyes and in many others they are a “angel.”

Shoes and Curls

We finally got back Bralee's shoes. Yeppers, we dropped her off at school and there they were. Surprisingly, I looked at the other little girls feet and she had on shiny new black shoes. She needed them!

Okay, I loved Brian's new haircut after he got it cut. Mind you, he got it cut in October. I started really missing his curls about a week later. That was how long it took me to remember why I desperately needed him to get it cut in the first place. He HATED for me to brush/comb/touch his hair.

I took Brian with me to get his haircut today. He has not had one since October. I was/am going to let it grow back out. Although, with the holidays, I was going to get it trimmed. No such luck. He refused. The hairdresser was able to make one cut and that was it. With me holding him down. So she could even it out on the opposite side. She got in 2 cuts. One above each ear.

Bottom line. Brian's hair will grow until he can tell us he wants a haircut. Can climb into the chair by himself without crying. Sit fairly still. And we just may possibly throw into play, when he can pay for it himself. Because no matter how much I liked his haircut, I loved his curls.

Thinking Back

Bralee had just had surgery and not doing very well. Joseph was getting ready to have surgery in a couple of days at this point. Although, he was located in a bassinet right across from Brian. Brian was healthy, just feeding and growing.

It is odd. Mine never co-bedded. They were never healthy enough at the same time. But the greatest thing was taking place late at night. They would take Brian off his monitors and let him go visit Bralee and Joseph. Once I found out about this I just had to take part in it. Be witness to the joy of visitations/bonding.

I could not believe it. I was going to be holding Brian, while checking in and visiting with Bralee. It was an amazing and brief experience.

The first time I held 2 of them at a time was 8/26/07. They were born on 07/25/07. I never got to hold all 3 of them at once until November. That is when Bralee made her arrival home.

I have a multitude of things to be happy for this holiday season, but the things that are to be most “Thankful” for are my family. Not just the ones you see photos of on here, but the ones that are in the background. The ones that helped me and these angels get to where we are today. The grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters.

Odd Night Time Behaviors

Over the weekend my mother was gracious enough to watch the kids, which she does often actually. Although, my brother and sister-in-law ended up with one of my boys. That was more than fine, as well. They have kept him before and he enjoys them.

I did call and speak with my brother to alert him of some of Brian’s new and awkward behaviors. He will lay and stare into outer space for hours. Sometimes he will acknowledge you and sometimes not. He likes his hand to be held. Most importantly, do not be alarmed, if in the middle of the night you wake up to him standing beside you just staring.

Oh yeah, it is freaky. He comes into our bedroom, stands beside us and just stares at us like he has never seen us before. We never know exactly how long he has been standing their sometimes. The pillow and blanket is always with him. Once we acknowledge him, he either climbs into bed with us or goes back to his bed.

Well, now Joseph is starting this thing where he comes in the middle of the night and just stands on my side of the bed. Yeah, the blanket is always with him as well. He wakes us up with his sucking noises. He waits for his invitation into bed. With his stubbornness, I can honestly say, he would wait hours.

I can feel and see that Bralee will be next. She already sleeps halfway standing up. We are constantly laying her back in her bed. Or being extra careful opening the door to the room, for fear she is sleeping behind it again.

I suppose my side is a pretty happening place. Maybe a traffic light will be needed if Bralee starts any bad habits.

Remember my post a while back about Brian, all his pillows, his blanket and now his book. Here is a look into his bed. Joseph, he just has all blankets. Bralee, her bed stays for the most part nice and neat. All she needs is her pacifier.

Rib Rub and "Not" Bralee's shoes

I suppose Bralee’s shoes were a hit in the other household! They have not been returned to her school yet. I did my civil duty and returned the other childs. Honestly, I just felt bad for the other little girl whom had to suffer the hours with her feet stuffed in Bralee’s shoes. I still laugh at the situation.
Afterall, we all have a crazy day every now and then. I have been dropping my triplets off to them for a couple of months now every “Monday” morning. Yeah, I only let them go on Monday’s.

Sunday we had a great “Family Day.” The kids have been battling sickness so we stayed home from church, but made a fun day of it. Shane fired up the grill and let the kids get active with seasoning and fixing some ribs.

While they were cooking they ran and played in the backyard, truly enjoying the beautiful day. We all sat down and enjoyed our supper. Then filled the house with wonderful smells of a Vapor Bath. Luckily the only coughing lullaby we fell asleep to last night was Joseph’s.

Here we go Again!

Oh,yeah, Hello Pediatrician office! We all went this morning.

At first, I was not going to take Joseph, he was acting pretty ok, just a little coughing here and there. Although, Nana is keeping the kids this weekend and I do not want any worries while their, I got him in as well. He is fine. He did get tested for Strep, but it was negative!

Bralee, well she has Bronchitis again. Here we go on another antibiotic ride. Hopefully this time my kitchen floor does not get to eat the yogurt as well! She is coughing so much and sleeping so little. Actually the only one getting the most sleep is Joseph. Brian worries about Bralee, therefore he follows wherever she goes!

Brian, he has an ear infection. I knew he had it, I was just putting off antibiotics. He is also having problems with his tonsils and going to an Ear,Nose, and Throat specialist in December. I am certain his tonsil problem goes back to when he was on the bottle.

Rounding up Summer 09 at OneTrueMedia.com

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Role Swithcing

Joseph used to be very passive. Whiny, yet passive. Not anymore. He is now notorious for being very dominant. Most likely coming into his firstborn role. He shoves and pushes his way into situations. Pushes others and bullies over toys and food. The other day he daringly ran up behind Brian and pushed him down while he was walking. Poor Brian fell and his sippy cup went flying. Needless to say Joseph, whom never used to get sent to Time-Out has pretty much been their non-stop lately!

Bralee, oh dear. We let them go into the back yard and play today. Yes, she would be the one, she came in with some kind of worm and so much dirt caked under her nails it was nasty. It will be her pockets that I will have to be checking instead of the boys! She is sneaky, so sneaky even at this tender age. Their is one thing that has stayed with her from way back in the NICU. She used to play with her hands, others hands, just always something with her hands; well that is the same to this day. You can tell Bralee to stop doing something, but if it has to do with her hands, it is like the signal from brain to hands is lost. I tell her 'do the hands and I need to have a talk?'

Brian, well out of all he is more of the mothering type. He is more of a caretaker. He will pull Bralee's pants up if they are falling down, try and help dress Joseph, and make sure everyone gets their milk. Speaking of milk. We all know how expensive it is getting, sometimes it would be cheaper to buy a cow and milk it, but in my case if you could not make it laugh and the milk come out her nose, then we would still have no milk. We were not even up and moving around 10 minutes this morning and Brian was trying to help get sippy cups and breakfast ready...yeah you guessed it, he dropped a whole (full) gallon of milk. It busted went all over the kitchen floor. Over the past 2 weeks my kitchen floor should be pretty healthy, it has now had a entire container of yogurt, thanks to Bralee and now the milk. I should have known something disastrous was brewing. Brian and I just mopped yesterday.

Attachment

As I was putting Brian to bed tonight, I realized a book in his bed. He automatically noticed that I noticed and slid it under his pillow, well one of his many pillows. This kid has some serious attachment issues to his one particular pillow. The other night/morning 4am I was running around the house trying to find it "The Pillow". I even ran out to the car trying to find where he had last placed it.

So this evening, I was picking them up from childcare and noticed that Bralee had on someone else's shoes. No biggie. Actually, I thought it was funny and felt sorry for the poor little girl with Bralee's narrow footed shoes. But the biggie was when they had no idea where Brian's infamous "Pillow" was. Now that was something I was not leaving without. The girl with Bralee's shoes and her mother could figure that out on another day. I will return the other girls shoes Monday and hopefully the other girls mother realizes the shoe error as well.

We found Brian's pillow. I bring it home and let him help me with the washing process. Bad mistake. Really bad mistake. He broke down crying. Proceeded to go and get one of his chairs pull it up to the machine and tried to dig out his pillow. I finally took care of the situation, but let him help me place all the laundry, pillow included into the dryer. Well, he lasted about 7 minutes. Therefore he is enjoying his "pillow" even though it is damp.

Brian is not happy with just 1 pillow in his bed, he has about 8, but only 1 is special. He also has 2 blankets, 1 is a special blanket. And now a BOOK!

Bralee, well she has a pacifier.

Joseph has about 6 or 7 blankets in his bed and whichever 1 he chooses that night is the special 1. Usually you can narrow it down between 3, which is what you better take on the road with you. But his most important favorite can never be left behind....his fingers, he loves to suck on his fingers.

Sick of being Sick

I suppose this all started shortly before Halloween. I did not get all hyped about Halloween; did not buy costumes or make major plans.

Bralee started showing signs of a cold around Thursday, but just a runny nose, more like allergies. Joseph was in the same boat and I just passed it off as allergies and treated it in that manner. Especially due to the fact that I ended up at the doctor office with Joseph and it was not even noticed. All concern was given to his passing blood in his stools. And the cycle begins.

The next day we are all sitting at the doctor office at Children's Hospital (which is where 99.99% of all their appointments are) and come out with a date of return for a test to be done. Here is the kicker, the blood is okay. The doctor gave the signs to watch for, but now we are going to be running test on the other end checking his reflux. That is fine as well, maybe, hopefully it will be the answer to his eating issues/phobias.

Now, we are into Friday, looking forward to a relaxing weekend. Which we do until Saturday/Sunday morning at 1am, coughing strikes. Bralee is struck with a cough, we pass it off as an asthma attack, treat her and go back to sleep. Sunday it rears its ugly head again and again. None us, except Joseph, got any sleep Sunday night. Brian even climbed into bed with us to pat Bralee on the back and make sure she was okay.

Monday morning, EARLY Monday morning, I take the boys to school and Shane takes Bralee to the doctor. I have to give my doctor office KUDDOS, when I call, they get us right in. Our Miss Bralee is teeter tottering between Bronchitis and Pneumonia. After the 1st initial dose of antibiotic and a couple of breathing treatments, she was as good and mean as ever. The downfall,she does not have enough intestines to fully absorb and the breathing medicine does some awful stuff to her urine so we fight one AWFUL diaper rash. I think she is smart enough now that she would run away if we did not lock it down like Fort Knox instead of getting a diaper change, or better yet, just not wear one at all.

Well, Joseph went for his testing. Shane had to take him. I have been hit like a sledge hammer with some awful sinus infection, fever and body aches to tag along with it. What I, nor Brian and Bralee, expect to see was Joseph walk back in the door hooked up to a little black box and a tube coming out of his nose. Brian and Bralee took off running and screaming. I took off running and hugging. Let me rephrase, Joseph did not walk back in, he was carried, he still was unable to walk from the anesthesia. Bottom line to all this Joseph is okay and needs to continue to eat more Fiber.

Somewhere in the last 2 weeks we have managed to spend way to much time at the doctor offices. Bralee is to be getting fit for shoe inserts for walking on her tip toes. I will be making that appointment once all the other chaos stops.