Most wonderful time of the year..

I love Christmas. Always have and always will. I love the decorations. I love the holiday spirit. I love putting up a Christmas tree and sitting in the living room with just the Christmas lights and relaxing. I got married on December 13th because I wanted to have a Christmas wedding. Now, being a parent, it puts a whole new spin on Christmas. It makes me enjoy the holiday even more. To see the wonder and amazement in their eyes. To see how excited they were to celebrate Jesus' birthday. Well, it's just awesome.

Our holidays went wonderful. I hosted Christmas Eve at my house. We had no oven but we made it through just fine. The food was wonderful. The company was great. The kids loved being with lots of cousins. The only fly in the ointment was sickness. Calleigh and Ciaran were both sick. Ciaran had his first fever ever in his life! Four years and eight months old and his first fever. It knocked him out. He wanted to do a lot of cuddling. Calleigh went to bed Christmas Eve before 7pm. She missed most of the night. Lord knows how she slept through 20 adults and 11 kids in the house. But she never made a peep.

Santa came over on CHristmas Eve and handed out one gift to each child. The boys found Santa sleeping in Ciaran's bed. Cormac with a look of pure shock and joy said "Hey, Santa, what are you doing sleeping in my brother Ciaran's bed?" Santa said he was tired after climbing in through the window.

Christmas morning was a dream. The boys all came into our room to cuddle as usual. It took over an hour before Ciaran said "wait, didn't you say Santa was coming last night?" Once he said that it was all over. Down to the living room we all went. Their faces were priceless. They didn't even receive tons of presents but were thilled. They had all been asking for the same gifts since October and never changed their minds. Ciaran wanted "hulk toys", Colin want "Ironman that says "I am Ironman and walks" Cormac wanted "the whole box of toy story friends from Target and a Cinderella doll". Santa also brought them each a Buzz Lightyear tent, sleeping bag and backpack along with lots of other fun stuff.

New Year's Eve we spent with the boys' BFF Kennedy. It was her birthday so we went to a birthday/New Year little celebration at her house. The boys'LOVE Kennedy's house. I think they would move in if given the option! I beleive Kennedy wouldn't mind them living there either! We had a great time. We were home by 8:30pm and neither me or Frank saw the New Year! We are both sick too.

On New Year's Day we were invited to a party at Frank's cousin's house. My Mom watched the kids overnight at her house. This was the first time since I had children my kids would NOT be in the house when I woke up in the morning! Frank has been alone in the house because I go away with the kids in the summer to his mom's house but this was a first for me. I was excited and freaked out all at the same time. I knew they would be fine with my Mom.

When I told the boys they were going to sleep at my Mom's house Ciaran said "Where are you going to sleep? I said "home in our house" Colin says "All by yourself?" I say "no, Daddy will be with me". He says in a very silly cute voice "That sounds a little bit like a date to me." Then he says "Hey, wait, that sounds like a SLEEPOVER date" I was cracking up. He is really a funny kid.

The kids did great at my Mom's house except for the sickies coming back. As of today, Januay 3rd, Ciaran has a double ear infection and sinus infection (his first ear infection in his life_, Colin has one ear infected and a sinus infection (his first ear infection too) and Cormac has an ear infection and a sinus infection. This is Cormac's second ear infection. Needless to say they are not so happy. We started antibiotics and am hoping they get well quickly.

For some reason none of the boys can say "happy new year" They all say "happy new hear". They all can say the word year but when it comes out together they say "hear". They have been up to their usual funny selves with the commentst they make. As my friend, Evelyn, said "keep adding them to the book". This blog is my book. I plan to print it for the kids when they are older. So, here are a couple of the latest.

Ciaran was only in his underwear and goes running up to Colin rubbing his back against his Colin and says "Colin you are so hot from your fever come here and keep me warm"

Ciaran kept saying the word "ritado". I had no clue what he was talking about. I finally figured out he meant "taco". I have no idea why he thought it was "ritado" but who knows what goes on in their little heads.

Ciaran says to me "Mom, what is diarrhea?" I say "why do you want to know?" Ciaran says "Because I think I have it" He was right!

Christmas morning after Cormac opened all his gifts he said "Mom, Santa is the best man EVER!"

Calleigh is a full time crawler. She will pull up to standing but is not cruising or walking yet. I REALLY want her to walk. She is getting stronger every day. SHe is very funny and loves to laugh. She also has a BAD temper. I mean bad! She slams her little hands down on her tray to her high chair if we don't fee her fast enough. SHe isn't talking much except for about 3 or 4 words. She UNDERSTANDS everything. She signs "more" and "all done" She eats more than the boys at this point. No joke. For breakfast she ate a full size yogurt, cottage cheese with fruit (not a kid size) a cereal bar and then two pancakes!

We are hoping for some big changes for her in the next few weeks. We have to follow up with cardiology, neurology, endocrinology this month.

Here are some photos from the holidays.

A Christmas Story...

The boys were chosen to be The Three Wisemen at the school play. Keep in mind it is Pre K 4 so the kids are little. Everyone had a part to play. It was so adorable. Too cute for words. My Wisemen were perfect.

Ciaran was Balthasar. Colin was Melchior and Cormac was Gaspar. They each had a line.

Ciaran: I am Balthasar. I bring Frankincense.
Colin: I am Melchior. I bring Myrrh.
Cormac: I am Gaspar. I bring Gold.

All three said their lines. All three sang all their songs in the show.

To say I was proud is an understatement. My heart swelled with pride. I cried. But they were tears of joy. Tears of pure love. I know they worked so hard to learn all the songs and their lines. Not to mention the amount of people who were in the audience. All the parents, lots of grandparents, aunts, uncles.

I was very worried about the performance. The Thanksgiving Show was very overwhelming for Cormac. Ciaran and Colin did great at Thanksgiving but Cormac never looked up once. He held his head down. After the show he wouldn't even be part of the feast. It was so out of character for him. I was so surprised. His teacher even called me the following day on Thanksgiving to make sure he was OK. She is the sweetest teacher and I was touched she called to check on him.

So, I was concerned we would have a repeat performance but he was back to his usual charming self. Singing and dancing. Saying his lines. Looking straight out into audience and giving it his all with a giant smile on his face.

Their teacher said to me today "First I want to thank you for having triplets and second I want to thank you letting me be their teacher". Sure made me feel good.
She was so excited to have tripets be the Wisemen. We are the first triplets she has ever had in her class.

I've said it before but when I look up at my three miracles all together it overwhlems me. It makes me happier than I ever thought I could be in life. To see Cormac, my deaf son, up there like any other kid in class is my dream realized. It's the reward for all HIS hard work. I remember sitting in a rocking chair with Cormac when his "profound hearing loss" was confirmed. I kept thinking "what do we do?" "How can this happen to us?" "Will he be ok?".

I know the answers now. He will be just fine. He IS just fine. He's just one of the boys. Ciaran, Colin and Cormac can be anything they want to be. Nothing can hold them back.

When I grow up....

Today we talked about what we want to be when they grow up...

Cormac: I don't want to be an astronaut any more like Buzz Lightyear. I want to be a doctor. Me: "what kind of doctor?" Cormac: "A veternarian"

Ciaran: "when I grow up I want to be a Cowboy. I want to be a Daddy but the kind of Daddy that can be a cowboy too."

Colin: "I don't want to be anything" Ciaran: "You said you want to be a fireman" Colin:" Not anymore. I think I just want to be a husband!"

Have I mentioned how much I love these kids of mine? Every day is an adventure. Some days they drive me nuts. But even when they drive me nuts they still make me laugh and smile.

Christmas is almost here. We are counting the days until Jesus' birthday. The boys love to tell the story of Christmas. I can't wait until Wednesday to see them as The Three Wisemen!

How do you decide?

The boys currently attend a private Parochial Preschool. They are in PK4 which means next year is Kindergarten. I can't even believe I am typing the word Kindergarten. Now comes the decision of where do they go to school. We have two choices: our public grammar school or they can continue at their private school. I LOVE their school they are attending. I would love for them to continue their education in a Catholic School. Both Frank and I attended Catholic School. But what to do?

What I want is what is best for the kids. Cormac will still need services and receiving services in a private setting is a WHOLE new ballgame once they start Kindergarten. Your home school district is no loger responsible for services. It moves to the county level at that point. I almost feel like I have to choose the lesser of two evils. If that makes any sense at all. I feel like my decision will determine Cormac's future!

I keep remembering his Teacher of the Deaf telling me how well he is doing. And how he won't need many services in the future. I feel like I am not really sure how the private school will do with following an IEP because I was "told "legally they don't HAVE to do it. I was not told this about our school. I have only heard positive about our current school. I have been told they work with the county and will write an IEP.

I think I am going to go to our public school for an IEP for Kindergarten and also have the county write an IEP. Try and see what either has to offer.

I am trying to get in touch with other families who have IEP's in private schools for their children. Anyone know anyone? Please feel free to have them contact me. I have reached out to Summit Speech School and I am confident I will get contacts from them as well as guidance on our decision.

I seriously get sick to my stomach over all of these decisions. Some days I wish we were just your typical family...you know 2.1 kids, no triplets, everyone hearing, no baby who had to suffer for a year...but then we wouldn't be us and I REALLY LOVE OUR FAMILY!

Pitch and Throw Grasp and Know

Synonyms. That's what we are currently working on in our house. Might seem like a older concept for four year olds but they really get it and are loving it. It came about because I realize many people use different words than we do. You know I say couch and would never say sofa. I stay mix and not stir when baking cookies. Cormac's TOD and I were talking and she tells me if he doesn't know a word or something she was working on (a rare occurence!) and a the words she mentioned are words I don't commonly use. So, with that I headed to the library and took of ""Pitch and Throw, Grasp and Know...what is a Synonym" The boys are loving coming up with their own synonyms.

Ciaran of course said the synonym for "toot" is "fart". Can't argue with the truth!
Cormac had a great one of "Tornado" and "Twister". Colin asked "What's a synonym for opposite? and I told him Anotnym. He is very proud using that one. It now goes on all day. And we are using so many new words. I have to pick up a pocket Thessaurus because I can't always think of words. It has been good fun for all of us.

Ciaran has taken a sudden interest in writing. He was always the least interested and preferred playing dinosaurs but I have spent hours with him this week letting him sound out words and him writing them. He gets so proud of himself. All three are really wanting to read. Cormac is reading some. He read "no turn on red" the other day in the car.

We are on huge drawing and writing kick. I have literally gone through a ream of paper in the past few days. The draw everything. Turkeys, me, Frank, Pop Pop in heaven with Duchess, each other, Santa, under water scenes with all ocean animals, they draw their friends from school. It occupies them for hours. I have no complaints.

The boys were chosen to be the The Three Wisemen as their Christmas show. I can't wait to see it and am praying they cooperate and don't get stage fright.

Calleigh is like a new child. She is everywhere! Crawling pulling to standing. Playing with toys! She is stacking, sorting, dropping. Her PT was here today for the first time in 2 weeks due to the holiday and she couldn't believe it. She said when she evaluated her about a month ago for her review she would have put her at 7 months. Now she would put her at 13-14 months!!! She has mastered crawling so next week we will start working on cruising. She is already pulling to standing all day long so it won't be such a big jump. But the best part of Calleigh is her personality. She is funny. Just a funny kid. She finds humor in lots of things and likes to laugh. She know when you are being silly and appreciates it. The best thing about the boys right now? IT's how they act around Calleigh. If you ever witnessed the way they react to her EVERY morning. You would cry. It would warm your heart and you would wish you could see it every day like we do. She loves them and is going to be wild....I can just tell.

Here she is on the move last week. Listen to the end and she says "I did it" after she pulls herself up



Our first visit with Santa for the season. First of many!