Ringling Brothers Has Nothing on Us!

People always ask me how I do it. They think there is some big secret to raising triplets and a three year old. My usual response is, you could do it too if you had to. I mean, you really wouldn't have a choice. Yes, it's challenging. Yes, it's exhausting. Yes, it strains you to your limits at times. But, you would survive. And so will we. I've had the experience of raising one baby at a time. Unless you have multiples, there's really no way you could understand what it's like. And that's fine with most people! To me, even twins seem super easy now. When you add that 3rd baby in the mix, things get a little crazy. But, there's so much that's great about raising three babies and a three year old. It's amazing watching these little people learn and grow. So, since nobody has offered to switch places with me for a week or so, I decided to make a video that gives a small glimpse into our day. Of course it doesn't include everything (like the endless cleaning up of toys, washing bottles, laundry load after laundry load, mopping the floor after each meal, and so on) but it's a good look at what our life is like. So, here's to us :)

http://youtu.be/2tM78i2Qz5w   ( I couldn't get the video to upload on here, so just click on the link)

What happened to 1-7??

Eight months!!! Holy cow. When did that happen?? I honestly can't believe my little bambinos are eight whole months old. I don't know why, but for some reason eight months seems so much closer to a year than seven months did. These babies have now been outside of my belly for as long as they were inside of it. And that eight months went by much slower than this. Though my husband may not agree with that. Let's see, who to start with? Let's go with Marissa. If this girl isn't walking pretty shortly, I'll be surprised. She crawls, sits, stands, cruises, climbs and is starting to get brave and let go of the couch for a short period of time. She's fiesty and determined. She is becoming very particular about who she likes. Sometimes she won't let anybody but mommy feed her (which doesn't exactly please mommy!). She takes a while to warm up to people she doesn't know, but once she does she will act as silly as she can with them and laugh and squeal and climb up them. She just does it on her own time. She is the most like Marley of the three of them. She LOVES taking bubble baths and if she has room, she will lay down on her belly in the tub and splash away. She now weighs 16 pounds and has two bottom teeth. Next up is Makayla. She is my tiny, sweet little girl. She looks so little at times, but don't let her size fool you. She can also sit, crawl, stand and is starting to take steps while holding onto the couch. She is still the biggest toy thief of the group and her poor brother is usually the victim. She is also all about mom and takes a while to warm up to people she doesn't know. She weighs 15 pounds and also has two bottom teeth. Last, but not least, is Jack. In one word, Jack would best be described as happy. He smiles throughout most of the day and usually it just takes me looking at him for him to bust out in giggles. He is very cuddly and loves to just be held and snuggled with. He can also sit and crawl. He has started to become more interested in getting around though and his sisters seem to influence him to follow after them. He now weighs 19 1/2 pounds and is atleast two inches taller than the girls. They have all really started playing with each other and entertaining each other. Makayla and Jack probably laugh together the most. Marissa is too busy trying to do new things and explore. Makayla will put a toy behind her head and Jack will laugh so hard at her so she will keep doing it to make him laugh. It's funny to see the things they do that the others find funny. One guaranteed way to have them all laughing hysterically is to put hats on them. I'm not sure why, but they think seeing each other in a hat is the funniest thing. They laugh so hard that they fall over. It is really so cute to watch. So, that is what is going on with the babies as they start this next month of their lives. I'm just doing my best to keep them happy and healthy and out of too much trouble. So far, so good.

Love this

They'd love to go around in just a diaper all of the time

Jack being Jack

One of the best inventions ever for multiples

Bath time!

My girls

Going on our walk

You Are My Sunshine....

Just in case I haven't said it enough, I've got one awesome three year old. I think she keeps me sane sometimes. When I first found out I was pregnant, we were in a dilemma deciding what to do about childcare for Marley & the new "baby." Well, when we found out there were three, we knew I wouldn't be working for awhile. Then we were in a dilemma deciding whether to keep sending Marley to daycare or not. The thing is- she LOVES school. She loves her friends, her teachers, the art projects, playing outside, singing, learning, everything. She looks forward to going to school. And she has learned so much. Things a three year old outside of daycare wouldn't know. Not saying they won't learn it, but it's amazing how much these small brains can soak in. I mean, the girl has "circle time" with her stuffed animals on the weekends. This past weekend, she introduced the babies to "circle time." It wasn't long before all three were being sent to the office though. Apparently the girls wouldn't sit still and Jack was biting everything in sight so that warranted a trip to the office. One day they'll get it. So, it was either send her to daycare where she loves to be or have her sit home, inside all day everyday, watching mom feed, change, entertain three babies and get no outside time and not much one on one time. The choice was pretty clear. We would keep sending her. There are some days I envy moms who just have one baby because then we could still do really fun things with Marley. A trip to the Zoo or Busch Gardens becomes a lot more difficult when you add three babies into the mix. My friends who have a child around Marley's age and one baby are always saying how they go places and things they are doing, and there are times I get a little jealous or down about it, but I know in a few years we are going to be having a blast with our four kids. The thing is, with three babies by yourself, a trip to the grocery store or even my favorite store, Target, isn't really doable. So, back to where I was originally going with this. Marley has been home sick the past two days. And I love it. Of course I don't love that she's sick, but I love that she's home with us. When I tell people she goes to daycare during the day they often say atleast that makes it easier on me. Not really. I prefer having her home. She makes me laugh, but even better, she makes the babies laugh. When I'm feeding Jack and the girls are having a meltdown because I'm not by them, she runs to them and gets their toys and makes them laugh. If one falls down she quickly rubs their head or back and says, "It's okay honey." (Don't ask me where she got that from, neither one of us say honey.) If one is crying it's, "Please don't cry sissy. It's okay." She is really so good with them. People always ask me how she does with three siblings. I honestly think she does better with them than I've ever seen any kid do with just one sibling. Maybe it's because there's not one baby constantly taking my time up for her to be jealous of. Maybe it's because if she wants someone to play with, there's always someone there. But, if she doesn't want to play, the babies still have each other so it's not a big deal. Whatever it is, it's working. The thing is- Marley doesn't know that this isn't normal. She doesn't realize that most parents come home with one baby brother or sister. One of my good friends had a baby yesterday and I was showing Marley the pictures today and she said, "There's her brother. Where's the other two?" So, in her mind, this is normal. She loves the babies with all of her heart and I am so proud of her for that (and a million other things that I won't bore you all with.)

Sweet big sis

Tucking her sisters in for the night

Sister love

She really loves her brother

Such lucky babies

Little sisters are supposed to pester you from time to time

Marley reading to the babies

Marley & Makayla having fun

A Rough Start!

2012 has not been easy so far. The babies have been so sick. They've had awful stomach bugs that have totally disrupted our daily routine, to say the least. In one day I changed atleast 9 outfits and 5 bedsheets. Yes, that was in ONE day. And this has been going on for a week now. Tonight they finally have their appetites back and that makes me so happy! One sick baby is tough, three is enough to make you go a little insane at times. My mom was also sick with this stomach bug so she wasn't even able to come help out. It's never a good sign when you walk in to get a baby out of bed from naptime and the room reeks of baby poop. And it's especially not good when after you remove one smelly baby from the room and you go back in to get the next baby and the room still reeks. Poor Marissa went so bad one day it went up her entire back, over her shoulders and down her belly. How the heck do you pick that up?? One good thing that came out of this, they all now bathe together in the big tub. And love it!!! They cry when I take them out. So now, when the evenings start to drag on a little too long, to the bath we will go! One of my resolutions was to get the babies (and me!) out of the house atleast once a week. If I think about it too much, it gets overwhelming, and we just don't go. Just to get the babies in and out of the car is a chore. The girls go in the way back of the van and to get them in, it's easiest to just lift them up thru the backdoor. Jack & Marley go in the middle row. But, to get the little girls out of the back, I have to take Jack out, remove his base, move that seat out of the way, then crawl in to get each girl. The type of carseat I have is already heavy, add on top of that a 15 lb baby and by time they are snapped in their strollers, I'm wishing someone could push me! Oh, did I mention that the kids and their limo stroller don't fit in the van at the same time? That means someone else has to bring that to wherever we are going. I told you it was work. But, we are going to start getting out. 7 months of home confinement (after 8 months of it during pregnancy) is enough. So, any of you other moms of multiples who are ready for the Boucher Three to crash your playdates, just let me know! Or of course, moms of singles too, I just don't want to scare anyone away too quickly. The next thing that has gotten pretty rough is the babies attachment to me. I've been thru this with Marley and I really didn't think the babies would be so bad about it since they've seen a lot more people in their short lives. Boy, was I wrong! I leave and they cry until I come back. And I don't just mean whimper. I mean red-faced, high-pitched, kicking and screaming fit until either I get back or they fall asleep. Times three. So, who wants to babysit??  All I can figure is that they are always with me. Even if someone else is here, I am too. At night if they wake up, it's usually me they see. In the morning, when they wake up, it's me. So, I guess they want me all of the time. Jack does the best but after 10 minutes of his sisters screaming, I guess he figures there's something to scream about and he joins in too. I know,I know, in time it'll pass. What's three more years of home confinement right? Marley is still doing fantastic. Her and I got to spend some quality time together last night which was great. I love that girl. She's as fun as they come. So, here's to hoping 2012 starts getting a little less smelly and a lot more fun.

Bath time

Ringing in the New Year

Watchin' fireworks

All smiles, all the time

Makayla learning about nature

Marissa seeing what's out there

Triplets at 7 months