Tag Archives: brothers

October 1, 2012 · 9:26 pm

Boys at the Pumpkin Farm

My daily quiet time hasn’t been going any better than the last time I blogged.  In fact, it didn’t happen at all on Saturday or Sunday.  How am I going to make this a habit if I can’t seem to even start?

Saturday I took the boys to a pumpkin farm with my sister, Rachael.  We had SO much fun!  The weather was amazing and the farm was filled with so many fun activities.  Bounce houses, mirror mazes, hay piles to jump in, two trains, pumpkin hay rides, corn mazes … and the list keeps going!  I think the only thing that went wrong was that we didn’t plan enough time for everything.  Ok … Jaden was kind of a pistol the whole day … but we still managed to have a ton of fun & Rae and I vowed to do it again next year (with the plan to stay the whole day).

Here are a few pictures from our adventure:

 

TeeTee won the “Greatest Aunt in the World” award and went into the bounce house with the boys!

 

Bah haha!

 

OK – Logan flew down the slide on his own – going head over butt the whole way down.  He landed laughing – thought it was the greatest thing ever!

 

When I zoomed in to see Rae’s face I laughed so hard I cried!

We went through the Batman corn maze!

 

This is Weston throwing a fit because I didn’t want to carry him any more … laying in the middle of the maze kicking and screaming.  Classic.  Rachael thought it was funny enough to take a picture – I just got annoyed.

 

We made a game of hiding in the corn and jumping out and scaring whoever was behind us!  (which was always Rachael haha but it was still fun!)

 

Towards the end the only thing that would keep Logan walking was his apple juice.

 

This isn’t very flattering, but all of us were racing to the end of the maze – final stretch!  Not to mention Weston was laughing hysterically while bouncing on my hip.

 

Jaden went through his first haunted house – it was a mirror maze.  I tried to take him through it but, because I’m a huge sissy, I convinced him to turn around and not go.  Rachael called me a whimp (rightfully so) and took Jaden through instead.  I’m such a scaredy cat …

 

While Jaden and Rachael were in the mirror maze, Weston, Logan and I hung out with the goats and llamas.

 

Don’t tell anyone, but Logan actually let one of the baby goats out!!  The gate wasn’t locked and he just pulled it open.  Thank goodness I was able to herd the little guy back in before he got away and anyone saw – man oh man …

 

There was this huge jumping pillow – it was just that, a ginormous pillow of air that the kids could run and jump on.  They loved it!

 

What pumpkin patch isn’t complete without a train ride?!?

 

And a pumpkin Xpress?

Logan – my little lover :)

Jaden and Rae loooooooove each other!

 

The two babies sitting side by side – they LOVED the ride!

 

 

The very last thing we did was shoot pumpkins out of this huge bazooka thing.  The man was so nice :)  Jaden even hit the huge pumpkin target (on the right hand side of the photo) a few times.  He LOVED it!

 

Logan & Weston got a turn shooting too!

Like I said – there was just A TON to do at this farm.  We had so much fun – and were SO tired by the time we headed home.  Can you believe we didn’t even come home with a pumpkin?  I had planned to stop at one of the pumpkin carts in Sussex, (after spending so much at the farm, I thought it would be better to just get the affordable pumpkins in town) but we were running late.  Soooo looks like we will be getting our pumpkins another time – it’s only the beginning of October, we’ve got plenty of time!  Right?  I AM looking forward to our first batch of pumpkin seeds tho …

Love, Mel

 

5 Comments

Filed under Holidays, Outings & Field Trips, Posted by Melissa

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

September 21, 2012 · 2:23 pm

All in a rocking chair

One of the greatest things I have started to notice is that Weston & Logan are starting to actually play with each other – not just side by side or in the same room.  They chase each other around the house.  They share toy cars back and forth.  They like to sit together in my rocker recliner and cuddle under blankets.

It’s extra special to see the boys in this chair because it was a gift from my mom and family at my triplet baby shower.  I received the same kind of chair when I had Jaden.  Jaden’s chair is now in his bedroom – still reserved as “mom and Jaden’s chair”.  While pregnant, this was the chair I envisioned late night feedings in.  The chair I would sit and read bed time stories in.  A chair became as much a part of my motherly vision as my growing belly was.

So now, almost two years after they are born, they are starting to enjoy the chair together.  They too find love and warmth in a rocking chair.

The week before Owen got sick, I remember the one and only time in his life I rocked him fully to sleep and just kept holding him.  It wasn’t that I didn’t rock my babies – it’s that I rarely had time to just hold them after they had fallen asleep.  I usually had to move on to the next baby right away or was falling asleep myself and would have to put them to bed so I could go to bed.

It’s a lot of fun to watch Logan & Weston grow in their brotherly love.  To watch all three boys play with each other – usually chasing each other around the kitchen butt naked.  These moments make my heart sigh.

 

Love, Mel

 

4 Comments

Filed under Mommyhood Meditations, Posted by Melissa

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

July 17, 2012 · 1:41 pm

Watch Out I Bite!

We have a problem … Weston has learned to bite.  It started with Logan.  But he did it when he got overly excited … like he would run up and tackle you in a big hug and get carried away and bite into your arm.  Weston is a whole other story!  He bites when he gets mad!  It’s his way of fighting back with Logan.

I usually hear the blood curdling scream and find Logan in tears with a big, red, wet bite mark on his arm.  I’ve only seen it happen right in front of me a few times.  Picture this:  Logan is riding on a bike that Weston wants.  Weston tries to push Logan off which he can NEVER do considering he weighs a full 10 lbs less than him.  Then his eyes flare rage and he sinks his teeth into whatever flesh is closest.

I feel horrible!  I’ve been able to catch him before he bites only a few times.  (I’m starting to learn the look in Weston’s eye in order to stop him before it happens.)

Anyone else out there have biters?  How do I get him to stop??  Right now I put Weston in his crib for a minute or two every time he does it.  But we are going on two full days of this with no signs of learning.  Pretty sure Love & Logic would tell me to keep with it and he’ll learn … but gosh I’m afraid to take Logan out in public for fear that people will think I beat my children!  His arms are COVERED in bruises!

Love, Mel

ps.  I had another thought … do they make muzzles for toddlers???  ::kidding!::

11 Comments

Filed under Milestones, Triplets

Tagged as , , , ,

April 8, 2012 · 7:16 am

Four Easter Baskets

Happy Easter everyone! He is risen. He is risen indeed!

I really wish I could be in my church for Easter service. We are visiting Doug’s family in the Green Bay area. And if I was going to miss church, this is where I would rather be.

The Easter bunny came last night as expected. I bought the boy’s baskets last year after Easter (I got a really good deal!) — but we still had Owen. It hurt to take out the brand new baskets — looking at four but only having three children who would go hunting for them on Easter morning. I packed all of them anyways. I couldn’t leave Owen’s behind.

When assembling the baskets, I put grass in all four of them. I assembled the triplet’s baskets first. So proud of all the great finds I got for them! There were microphones that sing. There were two bunny books. Magnets for the fridge at home. Goldfish crackers and fruit snacks. Pinwheels …

Then I assembled Jaden’s basket. Still not sure what I was going to do with the Owen’s. Then I started to fill the easter eggs with jelly beans. I then decided I would use Owen’s basket for the candy. That way I didn’t have to figure out how to fit them into the already full baskets. Done.

Owen was still apart of the family. Not in an obvious way. But I know morning when they reach for a candy filled egg this morning, they are sharing in Owen’s peace. They are taking a piece of their brother to enjoy. I thank Owen for looking out for his brothers. I pray that he lets them know him in a way only he can.

I can only imagine what it’s like to celebrate Easter in heaven. There must be one HUGE party going on. Party on Owen – show them how us Medal/Bissings do it!

Love, Mel

PS I can’t wait to post pictures of the boy’s Easter outfit – Thank you TeeTee

1 Comment

Filed under Holidays, Posted by Melissa

Tagged as , , , ,

October 17, 2011 · 12:00 pm

11 Months Old

The triplets are going to be a year old already next month.  Every month I think “this is my favorite age” then they get a little bit older and I think the same thing all over again.  I did the same thing with Jaden.  Although, having a five-year old is so interesting!  I love to watch his personality emerge and how he mimics Doug and I.

The triplets still aren’t walking … but are getting pretty close.  They love table foods.  Weston is still attached to his nook.  Logan has a smile that can charm anyone’s pants off.  Weston can wave “buh bye” – only when he wants to of course.  Logan’s trick?  He shacks his head back and forth when you tell him “no no no”.

Less than a month and we’ll be celebrating their first birthday.  It’ll have a silver lining of course.  Owen “would have been” one.  I don’t want every holiday or life even to be about how Owen isn’t there.  We have three boys who ARE there.  I still want to celebrate the boys we still have on earth.  They are just important.  It doesn’t mean that I won’t be thinking about Owen … I would give anything to have him back.  But, we have a lot to still be thankful for and we are going to celebrate it!

Love, Mel

8 Comments

Filed under Milestones, Posted by Melissa, Triplets

Tagged as , , , ,

October 3, 2011 · 9:14 pm

10 Months Old!

Trying something a little different this time … here is a slideshow of the boy’s 10 month old photos.  Although I think they are closer to 11 months old by this point :)  Where does the time go?

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Here are all the fun and new things the boys are up to:

  • They are just about walking!  Pulling up on everything and anything, walking while holding fingers, pushing the fire engine everywhere!
  • Sometimes when the boys wake up from their naps they spend about 20 mins talking and playing with each other through the crib bars before crying for me.
  • Loving finger foods – peas, corn, puffs, soft fruits, etc.
  • Logan has a weird thing with choking himself – fingers down his throat.  Can babies have bulimia?
  • Weston has started to snort out of his nose – Jaden used to do this when he was little.
  • The boys follow me around the room, under my feet, pulling at my pant legs to get me to pick them up.
  • They really get jealous of one another when I hold one of them.
  • Logan steals Weston’s nook all of the time!  Give him his own and he won’t take it … he just crawls right up to Weston and plucks it out of his mouth.  Sibling rivalry at 10 months old?  ugh oh!
  • Weston enjoys sitting on my lap for extended periods of time; while Logan will cry, need me to hold him for a few seconds and then is off onto another adventure.
  • They are fascinated with the way their voices sound in the bathroom.
  • They are making Mama and Dada sounds … still not 100% sure if they know what they mean yet.  Although Doug is confident they have been saying his name for months now :)
Jaden amazes me with how much he loves his brothers.  The three of them are going to be the best of buds.  I can’t imagine them fighting one day.  Is it possible that they won’t?  Who am I kidding???  haha
Until the next update!
Love, Mel
Here are the same photos just in a gallery rather than the slideshow:

11 Comments

Filed under Milestones, Photo Shoots, Posted by Melissa, Triplets

Tagged as , , ,

August 28, 2011 · 9:38 pm

Mama Feathers

In a recent conversation with another mom, I was told that “Jaden cries too much.”  Alright, moms of boys … why is it a bad thing that we have sensitive boys?  I think boys in this day in age could cry a little more!

Is my kid sensitive?  Absolutely.  Does he need to work on keeping his emotions in check a little bit?  Of course.  He’s FIVE!  Does it make it harder to play with him at times?  I’m sure it does.  But is that a justification to leave my son out?  Is it ok for all the kids on the street to just up and leave to play at someone else’s house while leaving my kid behind?

My mama feathers are more than a little ruffled.  I go into instant protection mode.  (Jaden was welcomed into the house with a great big hug and two freezey pops.  Exactly what my mom would have done. )

I need to open myself up to the other side or the other perspective.

One thing that my son does REALLY well is share.  He would give anything he had to anyone.  His allergy free food, his toys, gifts, you name it.  At times he doesn’t want to take a turn, but over all, he shares everything with anyone.

He also really likes people.  He will chat anyone’s ear off if they let him.  Jabber Jaw Jaden.  He’ll talk to kids his age, kids who are older than he is or adults.  He goes around and gives his goodbye hugs and kisses without much asking.  He says his please and thank you’s.

So what do we do with our sons who are sensitive?  How do I embrace his personality and his emotions while still raising him in a way that “he’ll fit in.”  How do I tell my son that it’s ok to cry at home but not at school … however if you were a girl, it would be ok for you to cry whenever.  Ok maybe that’s not totally true, but it kind of feels like it at times.

I just don’t understand why crying is a bad thing.  Maybe it’s because I wish I could cry more at times.   Having dated my fair share of winners and losers … I think that the “good” ones were ok with their sensitivity.  But, let’s be honest girls, who doesn’t love a ‘bad boy’?  Can a guy be both?  Rough and tough on the outside and sweet and sensitive on the outside?  Or is this just a movie character we dream about?

How do I raise my boys to be the bad ass motorcycle guy in black leather who buys his girlfriend flowers and cries at his wedding?  How do I set boundaries when at times I don’t know them myself?

I don’t keep my emotions in check, although I’ve gotten much better at it over the years.  I still can’t cry when I want to and am a blubbering mess when I wish I could hold it together.  I’m super sensitive and sentimental, but I have a redheaded temper.  I have so much growing to do myself.  How do I teach my son how to do it?

Parenting seems like an impossible task.  Teaching your children the ways of the world when you don’t get it yourself.   Lord help me …

Love, Mel

25 Comments

Filed under Advice, Mommyhood Meditations, Posted by Melissa

Tagged as , , , , ,

August 25, 2011 · 7:27 am

9 Months

I’m really late … like they are almost 10 months old, but I finally took the boy’s 9 month old photos.  So much has changed with them that I feel like I could write forever!  I think the best way to tackle this is with a list.  Man I love lists ….

  • They are eating cereal three times a day
  • They eat about 8oz of a fruit or veggie at each meal … plus cereal!
  • Weston is a human garbage disposal and will eat anything at any temperature
  • Logan is a fussy eater and must have his food warmed
  • They like to steal each other’s cheerios
  • I gave the boys some corn kernels just yesterday and they love them!
  • The boys eat breakfast the best! I mean lots of grunting and whining if I don’t go fast enough

Not only are the boys eating a ton and trying all kinds of new foods, they are WAY more mobile!  Weston pulled himself up to his feet first.  We found him after his nap on his knees, hanging his arms over the edge, yelling and screaming.  Doug and I lowered the cribs immediately!  Logan still has a little trouble getting up to his feet but can do it if he really wants to.  He’s got a big old Buddha belly to pull up.  Just today, Weston pulled himself up on the couch, walked all the way to the other end of the couch and was really thinking about trying to reach for the basket close by.  He was bouncing his knees and reaching out his hand as if he really wanted to, but wasn’t quite sure he would make it.  My bet is that he wouldn’t have.  But they’ve got to learn, right?

They have started to know their names.  Not always, but most of the time, they’ll look when I sing their name.  They really respond to smiling and laughing.  I can coax Logan all the way back from the other side of the kitchen by calling his name and making baby faces at him.  Logan also likes to crawl into the kitchen when I’m cooking and grabs at my feet so I pick him up.  Weston does the same, but he usually just pulls himself up to standing while holding onto my pants.

They don’t like it when I leave the room.  Not always … but most of the time they are more aware of who is around.

Both of them LOVE their big brother.  Jaden can do just about anything and get them to laugh and giggle.  I’m talking full out screams, bloody murder, hysteria.  And Jaden comes along and the boys are all smiles.  Brotherhood is a tight bond.

I’m really enjoying the triplet’s age.  You can play with them … make them laugh and giggle.  They also can occupy themselves just a little (with the right rattle or toy of course).  Just like with Jaden, each age gets better and better.

This isn’t the greatest picture … but can you just take a second to check out the rolls on Logan’s legs and his HUGE belly.  He’s growing into such a porker!

Logan – Owl boy — he’s got Doug’s super blonde hair!

He doesn’t sit still for very long.  Me taking pictures wasn’t very interesting to him.

Just a few seconds later, Weston was crawling up my leg wanting to see what I had.

One is goofy smiling and the other looks really confused.  They really look like rugrats.

There are the gummy smiles!  (Logan has two teeth on the bottom and is working on another one on top & Weston has two coming through on the bottom.)

Once again, they don’t sit still for very long.

So we moved to the couch.  They sat a little better … but they sure are silly!  Note that Weston’s outfit isn’t snapped in the crotch – not because I was lazy or forgot … the kid won’t sit still long enough to get the snapped!  I gave up ….

The boys really love to stand on things.  You can see the pure excitement in their eyes in this photo!

And now the determination of getting the remote controls …

This just proves that they are goobers.

And here is a close up (and a little blurry) picture of Logan’s new face … tongue up over his top lip, smacking … and drooling of course.  Reminds me of the face Owen used to make in one of the last videos of him.  It’s not sad to me though, I find it comforting.  They have a little bit of Owen with them.

Two trouble makers ….

I’m an awful mom … things got so crazy, I never got pictures of Weston on his own.  Terrible.  Next time I’ll take a few extra :)

ps Jaden starts school in 13 days!  yikes!

Love, Mel

Visit Top Mommy Blogs To Vote For Me!

10 Comments

Filed under Milestones, Photo Shoots, Posted by Melissa, Triplets

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,

June 7, 2011 · 5:21 pm

Three Cribs Minus One

We took Owen’s crib down.  The very place our sweet child stopped breathing.  The crib bumper and mobile were the last things our precious baby saw before death swept in.

What could have been the last thing Owen saw:

Owen’s crib was in the middle/corner.  We placed them in birth order.  First Logan, then Owen and on the end Weston.  The first night back at home we moved the cribs so Logan and Weston would be right next to each other.  I didn’t want them to feel the gapping space of a lost brother and empty crib in between them.

Doug really wanted to take it down … keep moving forward.  I dragged my feet for the first few days but was ready.  Jaden was spending the night at my parents and we found time where the two of us could be together and get it done.  I stood in the corner taking pictures … documenting the removal of my child’s bed.  Not because he was now a big boy and no longer needed a crib, but because he was dead.

A mother and her camera usually spell out proud mother, milestones, sporting events, birthdays, happiness.  I had my camera to hang onto the last moments of the physical evidence that we have triplets.  Every bolt removed, every board removed – I photographed.  Not sure what else to do … I couldn’t let his crib be taken down without notice.  It was a big deal – a milestone of sorts.  Just not a milestone I ever thought I would want to remember.

The frame is disassembled and in the back shed.  The linens are folded neatly and stored to be sold with the other bed sets, as a three pack.  Hopefully to offer comfort to another child at some point in time.  I debate who would want the bedding of a dead child?  But if they never knew who’s it was … would it matter?

As a new mother I’m not sure I could lay my child to rest on the very sheet a child died in.  Disgusting.  How often does it happen tho?  Will the sheets that Owen used in the hospital be used again with another child?  How much do we not know about the ones and the things we encounter in life?

The room that was once crammed with cribs, now feels so open and almost empty.  There are still two cribs and a changing table … but it feels empty.  I want to get a rocking chair for where Owen’s crib was.  On some level just to fill the space so it feels as full as before, but also for a place to sit while the boys sleep.  To keep them company when they may or may not need it.

Owen’s crib was removed, but it was replaced with the feeling and sense of loss.

I am thankful that Weston and Logan won’t know the feeling of a missing bed.  They at least won’t have their own memories of three beds being cut down to two beds.  For that I’m thankful.  I can take away some of the pain from my kids … I can carry this weight for them.  As a mother all I have ever wanted to do was give my kids happiness and protect them from pain.

They will be raised knowing that they are triplets.  That their brother Owen died at 6 months old.  But may they feel warmth from his memories that Doug and I keep alive.   May they never feel the pain of emptiness when they are referred to as twins.  I pray that Jaden, Logan and Weston come through this feeling more loved than before … now they have an angel on their side.

Love, Mel

40 Comments

Filed under Owen's Gone, Posted by Melissa

Tagged as , , , , , ,

April 21, 2011 · 11:32 am

We’re Learning

The triplets and I have been learning a lot these past few days!

On Tuesday evening we tried cereal for the first time.  More came out than in that’s for sure!  Logan didn’t last too long either.  You can see in the video below when he starts to freak out.  It’s a lot to do all at once!  But the triplets and I are learning and we’ll get the new feeding thing down.  Or at least I hope we do!

Just yesterday, I found that Logan and Owen can sit up … sort of.  We need to do a few sit ups to tighten up their abs.  Not only are they learning how to sit up, from this video I learned that I should NOT be a video commentary.  Please excuse my nonsensical mommy talk.  It’s a little peak at what it’s like when it’s just me and the boys.  I never knew I talked that fast.  Is that normal?

In addition to the mom thing — I’ve volunteered to help with Teacher Appreciation week at Jaden’s school.  I haven’t helped with anything this year and I was feeling guilty.  (I mean come on — being very pregnant is NOT a reason haha)  So I thought, what the heck — it’s just collecting some gifts and assembling them into baskets.  It would be something I could do in the convenience in my own home, at whatever hour I found time.  Easy, right?  Ugh wrong!  Like every thing in my life (or so it seems) it’s gotten a little crazy!

We’ve been blessed with generous gifts from fellow parents, however in the form of cash.  That means I’ve got to go shopping.  Whoops, didn’t plan on that one!  It’s also meant drafting reminder notes to be sent home with kids.  Another whoops!  We got this great idea to send home a worksheet with the kids to have them fill out.  We would then create a book for each teacher as a thank you.  Holy cats did that one blow up in my face!!

The first wrong move was that we wanted to include the paraprofessionals.  Since mom is one at Summit View, I know how much being included in ‘teacher’ things means.  But what I wasn’t planning on was that each para helps multiple teachers.  And sometimes, they help a different teacher in the morning than in the afternoon.  How on earth were we going to do that one?

I tried to be good and get another mom help out.  I used my new Zumba class as an excuse.  ”I would do it, but I’ve got Zumba tonight ….”  I tried!  Tried is the key word there.  BUT when I heard that the other mom I was working with was had to show her home for the first time the next day, my heart-strings pulled.  I found myself putting labels on worksheets with her until 10pm last night.  We got it done tho!  But I lost out on time with Doug and putting Jaden to bed, and a feeding and (very important) watching American Idol.

Along with the triplets, I’m learning too.  I’m learning my limits.  I need to do things that make me happy and keep me sane.  But with my babies, I need to be realistic on what I get involved with.  If I get in over my head, it becomes work, rather than a relief.  So while volunteering and giving is a love of mine, I need to keep it in gear and not get in over my head.  It’s just sad because I’m really good at saying yes!

Love, Mel

Leave a Comment

Filed under Milestones, Posted by Melissa, Triplets

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,