Tag Archives: supertwins

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

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Filed under Milestones, Posted by Melissa, Triplets

Triplets Are Five Months Old (already?)

Wow — five months ago yesterday I gave birth to three babies.  I can’t believe it’s been almost half a year.  I’m boggled at where all the time went.  I know literally it went to making bottles, pumping, diapers, countless funny faces and pacifiers.  But honestly, my little men are growing before my eyes.

Here are the 5 month photos we took yesterday.  Since it was a Sunday Doug helped me with these.  Too funny watching him trying to juggle the babies from one spot to the next.  He did a pretty good job keeping up!  Thanks for helping me with another crazy photo shoot Doug!

Weston – Logan – Owen

Weston

Logan (laughing at big brother off to the side)

Owen

Whoops!  Logan tipped over while I was taking Owen’s picture.  Am I a bad mom for stopping to take a picture before sitting him up again?

Enter proud big brother Jaden!

And now Logan found Weston’s eye.  Again, making sure to capture on camera!

Jaden proudly modeling his “my dad has Super Powers!” t-shirt.  (don’t mind that his shorts are clearly on backwards)

We went to a church family fun night and Jaden had his face painted as Batman.  Of course the girl he befriended had to get her face painted as Cat Woman.  I’m telling you he eyed her up during dinner!  After he went over to introduce himself, he came running back to whisper in Doug’s ear “When I get older, I’m going to ask her out on a date!”  What a little charmer!

A few thoughts on what’s going on at month 5:

  • Jaden and I like to play Mario Cart Wii while I complete the lunch time feeding.  I’ve gotten pretty good at driving with one hand and feeding with the other!
  • Weston is so close to rolling over (from his back to his front)
  • Boys are sleeping from 10pm – 6/7am
  • Owen is still the “chill” baby
  • I have my suspicions that the boys might be teething, but there isn’t a whole lot of evidence to support my theory – drooling, crankiness, lots of chewing
  • Weston is a SPAZ-ATTACK!  He often has trouble finishing his bottles because he is too busy looking at the room or watching tv
  • Jaden is taking an interest in his letters.  He’s always pointing out letters he recognizes.  FINALLY!  I’m proud of him, but it really took a lot bit for him to get interested in school stuff..
  • I start a Zumba class on Wednesday
  • I am always fascinated by how much gunk collects in the triplet’s ears!
  • Logan doesn’t take a nook anymore – he prefers to just cry
  • All three boys are giggling, smiling and cooing.  They LOVE to look at faces.
  • Jaden makes silly faces at the triplets and says things like “I love those chubby wubby cheeks”  Makes me think aboumust t what I look like when I whoochy cooch them!
  • They have started to look at each other – not sure they know who they are looking at, but it’s fun to lay them all in a row and watch them poke each other in the face.

Love, Mel

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

Death Threat at the Doctor’s Office

If you are in a waiting room and someone is reading a book, do you think they want to start-up a conversation?  Perhaps I’m totally off my rocker, but that usually means the person is content sitting by themselves.  To a drug rep at the pediatrician’s office, I guess that means I wanted to hear his life story!

I had Owen and Weston with me for a re-check on their spleens.  (Check up was great and the boys are healthy.)  I was looking forward to reading some of my book in the quiet of the waiting room.  This gentleman sitting across from me says “Twins huh?”  I (like a dumbo) say “actually they are triplets, the third is home with grandma”  Why didn’t I just nod and smile?

He goes on to tell me how is wife is expecting their second in August but he didn’t want to have two.  He was JUST FINE with one.  But she HAD to have another.  Really?  Does your wife know you’re telling this to complete strangers?  I nod and smile and same something cliché like “It’ll be nice, they’ll have a playmate.”

Then he tells me how his brother had that “in-vitro thing” done.  They had four eggs put in so they knew they could have more than one.  They found three but the doctor told them that there could be another one in there.  He asks me “did you have that in-vetro thing done too?”  Um no they are al’ natural … but thanks for asking?

I keep trying to go back to my book, hoping he’ll get the cue that I’m alone for the first time all week and would like to read my nook.  But nope – now its on to how he doesn’t like the age his son is now.  “This age is for women, men can’t wait for them to be older so they can do stuff.  I hate all this peeing on the potty and stuff.”  Really?

The nurse calls his name – thank goodness!  I FINALLY get to read some of my book … NOT.  Now the young mom sitting to the right of me says “I don’t know how you do it, triplets?  I’d kill myself”  The death threat comment, love it!

I reassure her that it’s really a matter of survival.  If she had triplets, she’d make it work.

Then she asks me, “Did you want triplets?  I mean, I know you love them now, but did you want them?”  I think this is her polite way of asking if I was on infertility drugs.  I told her that we weren’t expecting triplets, that’s for sure!  And in fact, it took me months to accept it, but when they are all wiggling around on the floor together, I can’t get over this amazing blessing I’ve been given … until they all start crying at once and I start thinking “why me?” again.

We chat and chat about day care issues, teething, walking, working, etc.  Her daughter is so darn cute, just sitting there smiling away at me.  The nurse finally calls her name.  Phew, a few mins to read my book!  Owen and Weston are called all too soon.

On the walk to the room, Nurse Liz says that I made the new mom’s day.  I guess she was talking about me saying “I just don’t know how she does it.  I get overwhelmed with just one.  Now I’ve got new inspiration, if she can handle three, I can do one.”  I guess the conversation wasn’t a total loss of reading time.  I’m sort of glad at this point that I didn’t read my book.

It just boggles my mind each time I hear someone say “I’d kill myself if I had triplets”  First of all, it’s totally not true.  Second, I don’t have it that bad … think of the moms with quads or sextuplets?  It can ALWAYS be “worse”.  I think I’m going to say “It could always be harder.”  My life isn’t bad – it’s beautiful, but at times it is hard.

Just another day in the life of me!

Love, Mel

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Filed under Mommyhood Meditations, Posted by Melissa

Another Triplet Gadget

More gear for the triplets has arrived!  We bought a triplet table from another triplet mom in the SEWMOT (SE Wisconsin Mothers of Triplets) group.  It was a great deal!  The mom and her husband dropped it off for me.  (thank you!)

What I wasn’t expecting was for it to be so large.  I mean it’s as big as our kitchen table!!  I don’t know how big I thought it was going to be … well I was thinking it was going to be at least smaller than our family kitchen table.

I was anxious to try it out.  So one night when all three boys were awake at once, I plunked them in there.  Take a look!  They are still sort of small for it, so I put blankets in front of them to help them to sit up.

Weston – Logan – Owen

Guess who this is – Mr Bug Eye.  It’s a trick question!  It’s NOT Owen it’s actually Weston.

And Logan has started the bug eye business too.  So funny.

He just looks freaked out in this one.  I’m sure I’ll get this look more and more as they get older.  I can hear it now “Mom what are you doing?”  or “Ugh you are SO embarrassing!”

I was giggling over their little legs just dangling underneath.  haha

Weston is laughing at something on the counter?  Logan looks freaked out and Owen is too chubby to hold himself up.

I think I’ve found a home for the table.  I’m really looking forward to starting cereal in it late April.  Can’t believe how big they are getting! (139 days old today)

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Filed under Milestones, Posted by Melissa, Triplets

St Patty’s Day

St. Patty’s Day is just around the corner.  To get in the mood, I had a few (2) photo shoots.  These little guys were good sports while mom got a little crazy with the camera!

Getting Jaden to put on his shirt (curtsy of TeeTee) was quite the story!  So much work to get a 4-year-old dressed!

The first pose with the triplets didn’t really work … Logan was seriously ticked off …

Ahhh much better on the couch by himeself.

Owen

Logan

Weston – Owen – Logan

Baby Choo Choo Train!

Weston

Logan – ticked off again

Weston cute as ever!

And here begins the Jaden photo shoot.  Let me just tell you how hyper this kid was.  To get him to sit still and smile for a picture was impossible.  This is what we ended up with!


For more green pictures check out the gallery below.

The weather is getting warmer and this mom is looking forward for some much needed time outside!  Perhaps a walk with the baby limo and Jaden’s Hot Wheels.  Walks are my green beer of choice this year :)

Love, Mel

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Filed under Holidays, Photo Shoots, Posted by Melissa

Mama Mel Had a Farm …

Welcome to the Bissing farm!  Can’t help myself but sing a little song … (sing to the tune of Old MacDonald)

Mama Mel had a farm.  EIEIO.  And on this farm she had a DOG!  EIEIO.

Mama Mel had a farm.  EIEIO!

Mama Mel had a farm.  EIEIO.  And on this farm she had a HORSE!  EIEIO.

Mama Mel had a farm.  EIEIO!

Mama Mel had a farm.  EIEIO.  And on this farm she had a COW!  EIEIO.

Mama Mel had a farm.  EIEIO!

Ok I’m officially nuts.  I have to admit I giggled to myself the entire time I took these photos and put these story boards together.  Don’t judge …

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Filed under Posted by Melissa, Random

4 Month Update

Today when Jaden got off the bus, we started with a sand art project.  For whatever reason Jaden wanted to keep his hat on while doing his project.  Oh he’s special :)

Ps – what is with the makers of sand art not giving you enough colored sand to fill all the projects?  We currently have 3 bracelets and a little jar empty because we ran out of sand.  When I was trying to explain why we didn’t have enough sand, Jaden suggested we make some more.  I asked him how we could make sand and he said you take water and you let it bake for a really long time and then you have sand.  Ummmm … A+ for creativity?

The triplets are four months old already!  They are so much more awake and animated - fun and a lot more work at times!  From what I’ve been able to read online, you start cereal at around 4 months old.  Since they were 7 weeks premature, I’m not sure if that’s 4 months chronological age or gestational.  We have an appointment on Wednesday with the doc so we shall see what he thinks!

They now study a toy when it’s hanging on the bouncy seat bar or when you hold it in front of them.  Owen will even kick his feet to hit the toy.  We are working on holding/shaking a rattle.  The boys love to hold my finger while eating.  Jaden has also taken an interest in playing with his brothers.  I think he finds it way more entertaining now that they interact with you a little.  The triplets all smile at him too.  It’s something quite magical as a mother to watch your children form bonds.

Each boy is developing more and more of their own unique personality.

Owen loves to look at you.  When feeding Logan, he started to fuss.  So I sat on the floor next to him in his boppy chair so I could comfort him.  Each time I turned to look at Logan, Owen would put on a huge pouty, frowning face.  Then I would look back at him and he would light up with smiles and giggles.  He LOVES his thumb and can find it every time.  Owen is still the most chill out of the boys.  But when he does cry …. it breaks your heart – he can really get that lip out.

Weston is wirey, wormy, wiggling and wild.  He still giggles around the most.  He constantly is wiggling himself out of his seat and half way to the ground.  He has the hardest time eating recently.  The kid can need to be burped five times in one bottle.  But he works hard at it and keeps finishing.  He has a raspberry on his left eyelid.  I wonder if that will fade or if he’ll always have that.  One thing I know for sure … he’s always moving.  Lord help me when he’s on his feet and always moving!

And last, but not least – Logan.  He still has some belly issues and tends to be the most fussy out of the three boys.  Even tho he might be the most uncomfortable, he’s smiles the most.  All you have to do it make eye contact and the kido lights up!  He goos and gahs and is the most playful.  Logan loves the swing.  After he’s fallen asleep I try to turn it off to save the batteries, but he always wakes up!  That little stink pot!  I suppose I’m getting what I dished out – my parents burned out a motor on my swing when I was a baby!

Look I got 2.5 smiles in this one!

 

They were so playful when taking these photos – I couldn’t pick which on to post.  So I posted them all!

This is Jaden posing for a ‘nice’ picture with his brothers.

a little better?

awww finally a nice one!  And yes that is a green sequin bow tie (watch future posts for another appearance of this bow tie!)

and the best one yet!

And then started the Jaden love fest!  He started smothering Owen with kisses!

So at four months, we are still alive!  It’s amazing how much I’ve learned about myself as a woman and a mom in the past short months.  I’ve learned how to find my self-worth when I wasn’t hearing the words.  I’ve learned that as simple as making a bottle is, it’s God’s work.  It takes more effort to whisper than it does to yell.  A four-year can both warm your heart and whiten your hair.  And three little babies can make a whole lot of laundry!

Love, Mel

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

Elmo Robes Crack Me Up!

I’ve been searching for something to blog about, and have come up empty handed.  Nothing is new here – just the same routine every day!  Feeding, diapers, burping and laundry  :)  I have some photos I’d like to share.  These adorable bath robes cracked me up after our bath last week.  Which reminds me, they are due for another one today.  Where does the time go?

Logan

Owen

Jaden was kissing Owen’s toes

 

Weston – ready to enter the boxing ring

Owen – Weston – Logan

Weston

Owen – Weston – Logan

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Filed under Photo Shoots, Posted by Melissa

Happy Valentine’s Day

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!  The boys and I had a little photo shoot while Jaden was at school.  There are a bunch of just Owen as he was the ‘cooperating’ baby today.

Love Logan’s face in this one!  Arm behind his head like a sexy little man!

Owen (left) Weston (middle) Logan (right)

Owen (left) & Logan (right)

I entitle this one “Love Hurts”  (Logan)

I’m also a huge dork and made Doug Valentines to take to work.  I would have normally made them for Kohl’s – but since I no longer work there I get to have Doug take them to his work!  He was such a good sport (after giving me all kinds of grief of course).

The top:

The bottom:

Into the fridge …

TaDa!!  Tiny looking ice cream cones – complete with cheesey Valentine’s day jokes inside!

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Filed under Holidays, Photo Shoots, Posted by Melissa

Baby A-B-C Photo Shoot

All during the pregnancy, the triplets were called Baby A, Baby B and Baby C.  My sister made some cute onsies with the same names!  We had a photo shoot with them this week.

Logan = Baby A

Owen = Baby B

Weston = Baby C

Weston’s SuperBaby pose (above)

I wonder what all the babies are looking at to the left … Apparently I’m not all that fun since I couldn’t get them to look at me to save my soul!

Ahhh haha Owen and his buldging eyes!  I think we get one of these faces in every photo shoot!

There were so many feet kicking about and so much grunting.  Got me to giggle out loud, all by myself at times!

This face is a perfect example of why I call him Oh-dee-doh-dee! (above)

When all was said and done, the babes were all back in their seats –  I was sitting there and had an “ah ha” moment.

So many times my life feels surreal – I mean, come on, who has three babies?  It becomes motions – just doing the same thing over and over again.  And every once in a while, I have these moments where it feels so real.  Where I can feel how important my job is – raising THREE lives at once.  Raising four boys (including Jaden) to be good men, to love their wifes (or husband), to love the earth and to love others.  They all depend on me.

They all will look to me for guidance and encouragement.  I’ve got love – plenty of love to give out!  But what I fear is the discipline that they’ll need.  Will I be strong enough to dish it out when they need to learn?  How many moments of “ugly mommy” will I have?  Will they look back on their childhood and think they had a crazy mom or a fantastic mom?  (I hope a little of both)  I’m so lucky to have a childhood where I think my mom was SuperMom – I was the luckiest kid in the whole wide world!  Stop it mom – you were AMAZING!

What I pray for at night is that my kids get to learn who their mom is (or at least who I try to be) – silly, goofy, giving, loving, stubborn.  I want them to look back on their time when mom stayed home with them as so much fun!  I want to do crazy things like turn the upstairs level into a giant fort and leave it up for two days.  I want to do funny things like cut their toast with cookie cutters and surprise them with a new shape each morning.  Do you remember Toaster Strudels?  When getting ready for school, my mom used to surprise my sister and I with a different picture on our strudel each morning!  Sail boats, trees, hearts, her signature ‘cloud face.”  And for the longest time I thought that applesauce was supposed to be served with cinnamon sugar and a cherry on top!

These are the simple gifts that MY mom gave me and I only hope that I can give to my boys!  I love you mom!

Love, Mel

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Filed under Photo Shoots, Posted by Melissa