Central Park Zoo

The Central Park Zoo on Friday was a HUGE success. I have not been there since I was a child so I was almost excited as the boys. Trisha, Dan and the kids joined us. We saw Penguins, Sea Lions, Puffins, Red Pandas, Polar Bear and Monkeys just to name a few. You really forget you are in NYC while walking through the zoo. THat is until you get back to the parking garage and have to pay $60 for 2 1/2 hours of parking! We let the boys walk most of the time. This was one of our first attempts at giving them more freedom. Since Trish, Dan and the kids were with us we had extra eyes and hands. Ciaran basically walked the entire time holding Christopher's hand. They were both so good together. Cormac stayed with me most of the time and Colin, well, Frank was the lucky one with Colin. He was of problem child for a small time. When he wanted to go one way and we were going the other he would just let his body go limp and Frank had to carry him and he was not happy. This didn't last too long and all in all I have to say they were amazing.

Cormac fell in love with a big orange fish. I swear, he didnt' even want to see the penguins. He just wanted to look at this big fish. He was literally squealing with delight. You can see his face in the picture below.

 

Daniel was the photographer for the day. He did take some time out to climb like a monkey
 

I loved the polar bears

 

Here is the family shot
 

The triplets and their cousins
 

 

Our first crush!

I started taking an exercise class that includes the boys. It's called Stroller Strides and is an awesome class and I don't need a sitter to exercise. The instructor has a daughter, Leila, who comes with her to class. We saw her on Monday and for the rest of the day Ciaran kept saying "Leila". (with a big grin on his face!) He saw her again today and I tell you, that kid was making eyes at her and flirting! How does he know how to do that at 2??? I am in big trouble in the future. Look out, Ladies, here comes Ciaran! At dinner tonight I was asking the boys to tell Daddy what they saw at the zoo. Cormac proceeds to say he say "monkeys, peacocks and penguins". And Ciaran, what does he say???? Nope, he didn't name one animal. He says "Leila" again with a shit eating grin on his face! It was adorable.

We are off to Central Park Zoo tomorrow. Can't wait to see the Polar Bears and Penguins.

Frank reminded me today of something I hadn't thought about in several months. When the boys were little we always stuck to the same routine. Bedtime was at about 8:00. We would give them their last bottle and sit in the rocking chairs with them at 7:30. One of us held two and the other one. We always watched Wheel of Fortune! I don't know why but we did. I miss those times when we were still able to sit in the rocking chairs with them and snuggle before bed. It is no longer an option. They have too much energy. We no longer watch the Wheel. But I wonder if it rubbed off on them. They have known the alphabet for as long as I can remember!

We now read books before bed but we sit on the floor since the all want to sit on my lap at once! Just another memory I never want to forget. Seems like each day I have one of those moments.

Devine Intervention?

Let's start by saying someone is looking out for us. I will rewind to Monday and fill you in on the details. Monday Cormac decided to dip one of his magnets/microphone for his implant in chocolate pudding. Note to others: this is not good! It stopped working completely. Being the prepared Mom I am (haha) I got out his spare, called Advanced Bionics and ordered another. At the next meal time I went upstairs to use the bathroom. I mean I was gone less than 2 minutes. I come back and both his magnets and coils are GONZO. I ask his brothers/co conspirators where the magnets are and Ciaran quickly points to the floor right at one. Great, one down, one to go. I find both coils. I cannot find the other magnet. How far could it have gone? They were strapped in their high chairs in the kitchen. I begin the search and after an hour give up. Cormac will have to hear with only one ear until the backup arrives on Tuesday. Frank gets home and looks high and low. Under the dishwasher, under the stove, under the table, under the high chairs, under the cushions. I mean EVERYWHERE I had already looked in hopes I somehow missed it. Oh, by the way, to replace the magnet is $350. They must be made of gold and I just don't know it! Frank has not better luck than me. Meanwhile, I am waiting for the delivery of the new magnet so Cormac can be in stereo again. No delivery. THis is odd since they always arrive overnight. I call back and they say they don't have any and they are backordered??? WHAT??? How do you not have a part when it means a kid can't HEAR??? Luckily, Cormac has two and could hear from his other ear. But not the point. I was really pissed. His teacher comes on Tuesday and she also looks. None of us can figure it out.

Well, today I walk down into the kitchen right before dinner. And wouldn't you know, sitting out in plain sight right on the bench is the FRIGIN' magnet? You couldn't miss it if you WANTED to. How the hell did this thing miraculously appear?? There is no way three people looked for this thing and missed it. Frank said God was looking out for us and sent it back. I don't know who did it but I am so freakin' happy. Cormac was back in stereo this evening and trying his hardest to dip his magnets in yogurt. We avoided the disaster this time.

I am sure these magnets will be lost umpteen times in the future. I am sure the will take more baths in pudding but I highly doubt this will ever happen again!

I tried posting this video after our zoo trip last week but it didn't work. I think this is working. The boys are showing off their dance moves:

 

Sweet Nothing in my ears

This movie was on last night on CBS. It was a Hallmark movie about a hearing man who married a deaf woman. They had a baby and he was born hearing but lost his hearing when he was 6, I think. The father decides to look into a Cochlear Implant. The deaf Mom, who has two deaf parents is totally against it. A lot has been said about the movie today on many websites and blogs. Here is my take on it:

I thought it accurately displayed how most of deaf culture feels about an implant. They do not know the facts and think their culture is being taken away by implants. They believe we are damaging our children when we implant them. That we are ashamed of them and are trying to fix them. I, for one, do not think Cormac is broken. I never tried to "fix" him because he is still deaf. Sure, he can hear me when he is wearing his processors, but he is still deaf. He has to work hard to learn language and speech. I believe 90% of deaf children are born to HEARING parents. What are hearing parents supposed to do? Not communicate with their child? Not offer them every oppotunity to be part of our family? Have him only be able to "talk" to deaf people, who by the way, we don't know. Am I supposed to submerge myself into the deaf community when I am not deaf?

I thought it did NOT accurately display the Cochlear Implant side of the story. I think the two women they showed with implants were both implanted late in life since they still had a deaf voice. I think they did not show one child who was implanted and is a success story. I think by not showing the other side it only continues to make the deaf community think Cochlear Implants are not successful. Hey, I am not saying all children who received implants have perfect speech. Heck, I don't even know if Cormac will yet. But he certainly seems on his way.

All in all in came down to the fact that this is a personal decision that needs agreement from everyone involved. I cannot imagine if Frank didn't think he should have an implant. But then again, Frank is not deaf so why would he feel that way.

For those that think parents who implants their children are monsters, I wonder if the same can't be said about those parents for NOT implanting their child and offering them every oppotunity this world has to offer.

Just today, Cormac said so many words I can't even believe it. We were walking through the zoo and he said "llama" and "peacock", well actually he said "blue peacock". And I am not the only one who understands him. Others with me who do not even know him can undertand him. People are amazed when they find out he is deaf. (yep, i said deaf, because he still is) At CVS today he named red, yellow, blue and purple for the cashier. She was amazed and didn't even know he had am implant. SHe just said she can't believe a kid who just turned two knew all his colors and could say them.

I could go on all night about Cormac's accomplishments. I could tell you countless stories of other children who are success stories with implants. They are fully mainstreamed in school, traveling abroad, speaking more than one language. The possibilities are endless for these children who were so fortunate to be born in a time of amazing technology. Yes, not all will be as successful but with the hard work these kids and parents put into it I think most will. I see it everyday with my own eyes. Not just with Cormac but with his classmates who also have implants and are successful users.

And the greatest of all???? Just about an hour ago, I put the boys to bed. And you know what I heard??? "wuv you, mama". And it was Cormac saying it. Makes it all worth it.

Pudding Gone Wrong

You can click on any picture to make it bigger.

Colin


Ciaran


And the messiest but happiest eater on the planet, Cormac


Well, gone wrong for me since I have to clean it up! They loved it. They thought they were mini Picasso's! They were carried directly to the tub after eating and were not allowed to touch anything. Believe it or not, I got Cormac's shirt clean and it is not ruined!

Egg Heads!

Friday, Ciaran woke up super early so I went in and gave him sippie with milk so he would go back to sleep. By that time he had woke up Cormac and Colin. So, I gave them all milk to by some time. I forgot to zip Cormac's crib tent and he tried to get out unsuccessfully and has a huge black and blue in the center of his forehead. Saturday, I take them to my nephew's baseball game. I was by myself but my mom was meeting me their so they wouldn't run onto the field to hug their cousin. I let Colin out while I was waiting for my mom. In about a half second he ran, tripped and his forhead broke his fall on the pavement. I picked him up a second later and it was already the size of an egg and black and blue. I was freaked out at how quickly it swelled and turned. So, now I have two with giant black and blues on their foreheads and we were going to go for 2 year pictures this week! I guess I will reschedule.

I guess I should just wait for Ciaran... They say things happen in threes!

Triplet Talk

With so much thought going into language in this household I wonder if the triplets actually talk their own language or do they just repeat incorrect words since they are hearing them from each other?? Sometimes they say things to each other that to me might as well be Chinese. They will look at each other and laugh like they understand this language. I am not sure they are really communicating. They all have certain words they say incorrectly. I understand these words because I spend all day with them. Does that mean I speak triplet language? I don't think so. I just know "bopel" means open. I know "uns" means sun. I know "mitmee" means mittens. They can all say the correct words instead of these nonsense words but they continue to say the nonsense words. I never say them back but repeat the correct word they should be saying. I figure some day they will start using the correct word, right?

Cormac had an amazing session with Joan today. He seemed like he was in "show off" mode. He said so many words. Words I had never heard him say before. He was even saying phrases like "want that" "your turn" and "cut celery" (we made ants on a log as an activity) I see him make this amazing strides and it just amazes me. I worry so much because I know he needs more one on one time with me to practice but it is just close to impossible. Will I fail him in the long run? Will all this be for nothing because I am not doing my share? This is what goes through my head daily. I try to make every experience of every day a learning to listen experience. It is not an easy task. Sometimes you just want to make eggs and feed them. Not take 15 minutes to describe every little step. "mommy is cracking the egg" Mommy is stirring the eggs" Mommy is pouring the eggs in to the pot. The pot is on the stove. I don't think anyone realizes that this is how our everyday life has to be. It is exhausting on some days. I am not complaining, trust me. I see the results and he is just flourishing. But the self doubt is still there. Am I smart enough to do this? Am I capable? These thoughts also ran through my head the entire time I was pregnant. How can I take care of three babies? How will I feed them? Dress them? Take the out? Well, two years later it all is still well. I try to tell myself it will be the same for Cormac. I am doing everything to the best of my ability and will continue until I no longer have to.

Not sure why I am feeling like this today. But Oh well... Ciaran is crying. Gotta go. Nap time is over!

Can I have a moment, please????

It's been two days of non stop action. I guess I can rest when I am dead. Monday started with my Stroller Strides Class at the zoo. After pushing around 150 thru the hills of Turtle Back Zoo it was home for a quick lunch and naps. I had to steal Colin from his room and bring him for his 2 year well visit. He is doing great. He is just under 3 feet tall and about 28 pounds. Pretty good for someone who started out at 3 lbs 15oz and 16 1/2 inches long. SOmewhere is there I prepared Chicken Quesadillas so they could just be popped in the oven because I had a dentist appt right at dinner time. Off to the dentist, back home to clean up after dinner. The boys went NUTS for the quesadillas. They were calling them "dillas". They ate like little piggies. After they went down for the night I was off to Target for some last minute items we can't live without. For me, that was EL Fudge Cookies. For the boys, it was milk we needed for them morning!

Tuesday starts out with Art Class. I decided to walk to the bank first and then go to class. They were very wild today at class. Why are my kids the kids throwing the soil out of the planter? Today I considered joining a new family for a few days. Mealtimes, so far, have been a mess. More food all over the kitchen than in their mouths. Time outs every two minutes for poor food manors. Right now they are all in their cribs but Ciaran and Cormac have their well visit today at the pediatrician so that is what we will do this afternoon.

Wednesday, Cormac goes to school so we are up and out by 9am and gone until lunch. All I want to do is sit down for just a minute but I realized the house doesn't clean itself and the laundry, try as i might, does not wash and fold itself.

Torture Daddy Day!

Frank went to a Bachelor party last night. I think probably his last since everyone at the party was married except for the Bachelor. Anyway, it was a nice affair. Boat ride around Manhattan, food, drinks. Not your typical beer and strippers! I was so happy for Frank to go out and socialize. He doesn't really ever go out and he deserves it. That said, I tried to explain to him no matter what condition you are in on Sunday, the day must go on. Ciaran, Colin and Cormac don't understand "Daddy has a hangover". He was gone on Saturday by 2:30 in the afternoon. He crashed at a friend's house and arrived home at about 8am this morning. He has looked and smelt better! Well, he gets home and he wants to sleep and rest. HA HA HA! I said, sorry, but that is not happening. I have been on my DEATH bed and he leaves for work and no one is there to say, "go lay down, I will take care of everything". So, we went to the mall, you know loud, bright lights are great for a pounding head. Colin got his hair cut. Oh, the screaming.... We went to the play area with about 20 other kids running around.... You get the picture. We had some lunch and headed home. All four of them are now sleeping while I ponder what else I can torture him with!

Wolf Birthday Party

Here is one of the wolves:





Today the wolves celebrated their birthday at The Turle Back Zoo. A little bit of useless information: All wolves are born in April. Strange but true. Anyway, Frank and I took the boys to the zoo for a the celebration. It was like a summer day today. We are members of the zoo and go frequently but it always seems new for the boys. Since the boys all howl like wolves I was hoping to enter them in the howling contest but it was scheduled for later in the day and we had to come home for naps. (By the way, it is 2:39pm and yes, I know where my children are today. They are napping away unlike yesterday!) They also have pony rides at the zoo. Since Ciaran is a horse freak we knew he would be more than eager to go on the pony. He was yelling "ney, ney" over and over again and trying to hop the fence to get to them. Did I mention this kid LOVES horses? For some reason they do not allow the parents to walk with the children. They have a trainer. I knew this could be problematic for Colin. He would want me to go with him. And sure enough, he want so badly to go on the pony but he wouldn't go without me or Frank. So, no pony ride for Colin. Cormac was chomping at the bit for his turn. The trainer asked if he would ride the "bigger" horse. I said I wasn't sure but she could try. Ok, she puts Cormac on this GIANT horse. He looked like a peanut on it. His smile was so big he couldn't contain himself. He loved it.

Check out Cormac. How little does he look??


Our future equestrian, Ciaran


We met the zoos mascot, Myrtle the Turtle. I always think the boys will be afraid but they always seem to prove me wrong



We also fed the sheep. This was their first time and it was pretty funny. They giggled every time the sheep touched their hands.

Frank is going out for the first time in a lOOOOONG time and won't be home until late tonight. I am sure tomorrow will involve a hangover. But like I said before he left, no matter what you do tonight, I know for sure, the boys will be up bright and early tomorrow looking for YOU! So keep that in mind while you drink another pint! I think we are heading to Daniel's baseball game if the weather holds out.

It's 2:45pm, Do you know where your children are?

I know where my children are SUPPOSED to be but for some reason they are not where they are supposed to be. Right about now they should be almost 2 hours into a 3 - 3 1/2 hour nap. But instead I have three children in their cribs laughing, playing, talking and jumping. Doing everything but napping. There is no crying so I will let their little butts stay in there until it's time for the to "wake up". I think it is my own fault. They are always in cribs by 1pm or even a little earlier. I was out this morning with them and we didn't get back until 1:15. Then came the EXPLOSION and I mean EXPLOSION. Cormac pooped like nothing I have ever seen in two years of diapering three boys. It was everywhere. It was literally coming out the top of his onesie in the back. By the time I dealt with the poop situation and changed the other two it was closere to 2pm. I think I missed the window of opportunity. This is the first time they have ever skipped a nap while at home. A few times they have skipped a nap if we are out and about or traveling. Not sure what the evening will hold. I am sure they will be very tired by 7:30 tonight.

Things I KNOW about each day

Each morning arrives and I wonder what I will wake up to for the day. I never know what kind of day it will be. Will it rain or will it be sunny? Cold or warm? Busy or slow? All these are unknown at the start of the day. But each morning when I wake up there are certain things I know for sure. I know Ciaran will always be awake first. No matter what. I know Colin will start chattering away and talking to his fireman. I know when I walk in the room even though Cormac can't hear me yet, he will know I am there because he can feel me. I also know he will be either laying down or sitting up but FOR SURE he will be sucking on the first two fingers of his right hand. I know Ciaran will ask for milk almost immediately. I know Colin will be the first to ask to get out of his crib. I know they will each be picked up and give me a giant kiss. I know they will ask where Daddy is. I know they will run down the hall like their littes asses are on fire to get downstairs to get some milk. I know they will go through the living room and dining room like a small tornado and all the cleaning I did the night before will be forgotten. I know one of them (and it could be any one of them) will climb up on the bench in the kitchen and turn the light off in the kitchen. I know they will ask for Duke and Duchie. I know they will make a huge mess in the kitchen when they eat breakfast. I know Ciaran has to have first pick of the sippy cups and plates or he is not a happy camper. I know I will change at least 15 diapers. I know I will dress them and have to redress them because they get dirty or they like to take off some of their clothes. I know each day I will be hugged, kissed and licked, yes, licked countless times and it is never enough. I know the noise level in our house will reach ear bleeding levels. I know the majority of the day I will hear the best three little laughs I have ever heard. I know I will also hear the loudest three screams I have ever heard as they fight over a toy or whatever. I know we will play alot. I know I will hear "wuv you". I know I will hear again "where Daddy". I KNOW I will be asked for crackers at least a million times if not more. I know I will have to make lunch and put them down for naps. I know I will somehow squeeze in doing the laundry and cooking dinner and cleaning the house during their nap time. I know when they wake up from their nap and once again it will be Ciaran who is up first it will sort of be the same as the morning. "where's daddy? More Milk" I know when I tell them Daddy is home they will nearly kill each other trying to get to the window to look out for his car. I know once they see Frank in the driveway they will yell "Daddy" and get so excited you can practically feel it. I know they will run to the stairs to get down so they can go to the door and tackle Frank. I know from the moment Frank is home until he is asleep he will spend every moment he can with them. I know we will all eat dinner together as a family. I know after dinner Frank will put on Animal Planet and the boys will watch it with him for a while. I know when it is time for bed the boys will ask for their blankets to be put on them about 10 times and keep pulling it off so we can put them back on. I know I will do it a few times and then tell them it is their last chance or they don't get a blanket. I know our days are filled with fun, laughter, excitement and sometimes tears and tantrums. I know I will clean up the house and get ready for the next day. I know the next day will start just like the day before.

I also KNOW I would never change any of it not matter what I was offered.

There are many unknowns in our day and I look forward to them but I really love "what I know".

Our birthday Celebration

We had a party for the boys on Saturday. It was supposed to be cold and rainy but we lucked out and it turned out to be a beautiful day. We kept it small this year just about 25 people. We had some food, some drinks and some yummy cake. The boys, once again, received beautiful gifts from everyone. We can't thank everyone enough for their generosity.

On Sunday (their actual birthday)we took them to Imagine That! Children's Museum. They had a BLAST! Our only problem is Colin wanted to stay in the fire truck forever. He would NOT leave it. Frank finally had to just grab him while he cried. He was yelling "Eeww eee, Eeww eee( that is the sound he makes for a fire truck). But within a minute he was fine playing in a giant sandbox.

All in all we had a wonderful weekend full of fun. I still can't believe they are two. We start an art class tomorrow. Should be interesting. I am sure they will be a MESS. I'll be sure to bring the camera.

Here is a slideshow of pics from the party and the museum the next day.

PS The shirts with their names are from myliltees.com. Don't forget to check out the website

Happy Birthday to US!

The boys are TWO today! I wanted to take some time to really remember what each of them is like at the moment. So, here it goes:

Ciaran Thomas exactly one year ago on his first birthday


Ciaran is a cuddler. He is the first to want to sit on your lap and snuggle. He is determined and head strong. He has a little bit of the devil in him. He may be small but he is mighty. He has something about his face that just makes me smile. When he smiles his eyes disappear. When he laughs it sounds nasally. He loves horses and books. He is smart as a whip but will not perform if asked. He likes to do things on his terms. He likes to be wrapped like a burrito when he goes to sleep at night. He loves the bath. He talks the clearest of the three at the moment and can say anything. He understands jokes and really "gets it". I believe he will be a real ball buster when he grows up. He is the quickest to get mad and also the quickest to just give you a hug for no reason at all.


Colin Francis at his first birthday



Colin: The best word to describe Colin is Jolly. His smile and his laugh are contagious. His laugh comes from so deep in his belly and he loves to laugh. His smile takes over his entire face. He is a joker. He is the biggest but the most sensitive. He loves to figure out "how things work". He can open any door, unlock any baby lock. He loves to do things for me. He is totally into trucks right now. He also loves his books. His favorite words at the moment are Yellow and Dirty. He loves to take a bath but doesn't really like the water over his face. I believe he just might be the class clown when he grows up. Colin is kind. Colin is so smart and will gladly share his smartness with anyone who asks.

Cormac one year ago

Cormac: I think the best word for Cormac is sweet. Everything about him is sweet. His smile, his laugh, his personality. He misses nothing. He only needs to be told something once and it is committed to memory for life. He is good for running across the room and hugging for no apparent reason. He loves airplanes and ducks. He also likes to read. Baby Signing Times is his obsession. He will watch any of the videos over and over and he can do EVERY stinkin sign in all the videos. He is like a sponge always soaking in his surrounding. He has a giant heart and you can tell already he loves deeply. He is kind and gentle. He LOVES babies. He wants to kiss and hug them. Oh, and I forgot Duke. Duke and Cormac have a special bond. None of us get it but the two of them understand each other. He is a performer and loves to peform for all. I think when Cormac is older he will be a natural leader.

None of them like when the other is upset. If one is crying the other two start saying "boo hoo" and acting upset. They love each other and it's apparent. They have different relationships with each other. It is fascinating to watch the dynamics of these relationships develop over time. Before Cormac could hear I think he was a little on the sidelines of this "triplet" dynamic. Sometimes I would get so upset because it would seem he was being left out but in actuality it was he just didn't realize Ciaran and Colin were doing something. Now they are a true threesome. A force to be reckoned with. I know they will fight and probably want to kill each other at times but I also know they will NEVER let someone else go near their brother without a fight. They are extremely loving towards each other and kiss and hug a lot. They also get mad at each other. Ciaran and Colin are the first to realize when Cormac's implant has fallen off and try their hardest to put it back on. They are and always will be his greatest teachers. He learns every day from them by having built in language models. They learn every day from him that their is nothing you can't accomplish. Some day they will understand Cormac is deaf and I know they will be his best support system. The three of them will always have each other's backs.

I marvel each day at how lucky I am in life. We may not be rich or have it all but we have a house FULL of love and laughter. I couldn't ask for more. These boys are the greatest gift I could have ever asked for and I never dreamed it could be so good. To know when I wake up each morning I go into a room of three beautiful smiling faces just waiting for their "Mama", well, that's enough to just bring me to tears. I try and not get caught up in our busy life and take time to enjoy the moments. They will not be small forever. They will not let me hug and kiss forever so I better do it while I can. But what I hope they do know is that no matter what, I will love them forever. Nothing could ever change the love I have for them.

I started this post on 3/17/08 since I knew it would take a while. In the past few weeks this boys have really started talking. They know every letter of the alphabet, numbers 1-10 and colors red, yellow, blue green and PURPLE. Purple has become a "tickle" word in our house. If you say it, you get tickled. They find this so amusing and will just run up to me and say "purple" to get it started. Cormac particularly loves this game. To our amazement he "gets it". He knows it's a joke to say the word. This is an accomplishment noticed by his teacher. Deaf children in general have a hard time learning when something is said one way and means another. They learn the words more literal meaning and it takes them sometime to pick up slang or jargon.

I think back to the day I found out about having triplets. Most people said "did you freak out?" But I really didn't. I was pretty calm and from the moment I was pregnant never had a negative thought. Not even when I went into labor more than once and they hooked me up to Magnesium causing me to feel worse than words could ever describe. I literally had no control over my eyeballs and wanted to vomit the enitre time. I just kept thinking I know these boys are going to be fine and WHATEVER is needed I will do. I also remember being about 31 weeks and going into labor again and thinking. "I don't know if I had handle Mag again for the 3rd time" But then in the next breath told the Dr. "ok, do whatever you need to" Luckily, I didn't need it because it was stopped on it's own. I never knew I could love Frank more than I already loved him. I have always known what a wonderful man he is and his love for me is unlimited. But for what he had to endure while I was pregnant and never complaining once, after watching him when each baby was delivered and him managing to not only videatape but also get a still photo! and never ever leaving my side once, my love and respect for him has only deepened. These last two years have been a lot of fun. Alot of marraiges are weakened by births of multilples. I have to say ours has only gotten stronger. He is an outstanding father. His sons love him. One of my greatest joys is to see his face and theirs each day when he comes home from work. They run and just attack him with hugs and kisses. It is a memory forever burned into my brain. Something I never want to forget.

I know this post is long and sappy but hey, I think I deserve a little sappiness once in a while!

I will post again with pics from their party and our birthday adventures of the day

Such a great day

just wanted to share what a great day we had today. I know we vent a lot but I like when people share their happy moments as well. We left the house bright and early and went over my sister's house. The boys played like crazy with their cousins. I took them out to lunch by myself and they were so good. By that time it was time for nap. They took a 3 hour nap while I iced their birthday cakes. Frank and I took them out to dinner tonight because with all the party prep I just didn't have it in me to cook another thing. Plus, the house was just cleaned this morning and I didn't want to mess it up! We went to TGIF's and you know that look you get when you walk in with multiple toddlers? The waiters and waitresses seem to get nervous. We had the sweetest waiter who just love the boys. He was hi fiving them. They sat at the table and ate like such big kids. No crying no fussing. They just talked and laughed. The waiter even said these are the best kids I have ever waited on! We came home and watched Animal Planet and they all sat in one chair together and snuggled and kissing each other.

They are so good when we go out to eat. They love sitting in the high chairs at the table. They love seeing all the people.

Granted, not all days can go like this but I wanted to take time to remember it!

Maybe it's because I feel them growing up so fast I am feeling a little sappy. But it was such a nice fun day. A great way to start their birthday celebration.

All in a days work, right?

As I type this it is 2pm. It is also nap time. So, here is what I did so far today. The boys woke up early today which thru me off a little. They were up and out of cribs by 7am. We laid in my bed and drank milk for a while and then it was time for breakfast. While they ate their French Toast and made a mess with syrup I made a homemade pot of sauce. Upstairs for diaper changes and dressing for the day. Back downstairs to play for a while and I managed to mix up the filling for the two trays of lasagna I have to make. Joan came for Cormac so I sat with them for 1 hour. When she left it was time for lunch. While the ate their meatloaf and mashed potatoes I assembled two lasagnas. Upstairs for diaper changes and off to nappy time. I go back downstairs and made two trays of sausage and peppers. Somewhere in there I also made a cake. The second cake is in the over at the moment and I will bake the third as soon as cake number two is finished. Off to a great start today. Who knew all that could be accomplished in a few hours. I also managed to never leave the kids alone for more than a minute. Oh, I forgot I also gave Ciaran a haircut this morning. It's all about multitasking!

Ciaran haircut was my first attempt at giving them a haircut. Not sure what possesed me to do it this morning. I think it was pretty successful. Except for one spot when he turned his head quickly. But since we normally spike his hair you can't really tell. I am afraid to do Colin's since his hair has a part and I don't want him to look ridiculous. I should have waited until after the party but Ciaran's hair was so long and there was no time for a stop at the barber. Cormac is still sporting the buzz cut and will continue to do so.

What are all the preparation for? The boys second birthday party is on Saturday. We are only do a small party with grandparents, Godparents, aunts and uncles (of the boys, not ours)and cousins. Of course, it still is about 25 people.

I also managed to roast a chicken and make potatoes for dinner. It is now 6:20 pm and dinner is done. The boys are enjoying applesauce for dessert. They will be in bed in a little over an hour. That's when I will head out to get the few last things I need. NOw I just need to ice three cakes to make them look like animals.

Six Arms are hard to keep an eye on.

My Mom and I took a ride to PA today to do a little shopping at the outlets. Of course, the boys were along for the ride. They were their usual cooperative selves. We went to a few stores and my Mom bought them a bunch of clothes for their birthday. We had lunch and all the while I had to keep watch for those six little arms and six little hands reaching out of the stroller for whatever was within their reach. Now, I might mention their reach is WAY LONGER than you would think. They can contort their little bodies into positions in the stroller that would do Cirque de Soleil proud. The day went off without a hitch UNTIL I decided I just HAD to go into JCrew. I should have known better. It was now nap time and the boys were getting restless. I couldn't fit the stroller in the back of the store so I park them in a "safe" spot and tell my Mom to watch them while I run in the back of the store. I was literally 5 feet away! Within 2 minutes I hear the loudest CRASH and it sounds like breaking glass. Now, who else would be breaking things in JCrew in the middle of the day if it was not one of my chilren? I run over and realize my "safe" parking spot was next to a table that (at stroller eye level, not my eye level) had GIANT glass containers filled with headbands. I assume the draw was too much and Cormac just could not resist the headbands. He pulled the whole thing off the shelf and when it landed it hit the wheel of the stroller and shattered all over the place. After I realized he was not hurt or bleeding I helped clean up the store! That was our cue to leave and we called it a day. (Well, I did manage to buy two T-Shirts first and then quickly left the building!) I think the boys fell asleep in the car before we pulled out of the lot. Luckily, it is a long drive home and they got some rest.

Corinne's Christening

The Proud Godparents, Frank and Jackie




Tommy and his little sweetie


Juanita and Corinne


We started out on Saturday by going to Corinne's Christening. She is so beautiful. Frank was the Godfather. We had a great time. The boys got all dressed up in their sport coats and had a blast. I have to say it is crazy how much has changed in two short years. Frank and I have three kids. Tommy and Juanita have a baby. A bunch of Tommy's friends now have babies. Our conversations have changed drastically. From beer to Colic. From falling down from being drunk to rocking a baby til it falls asleep. What a difference a few years makes.

Today, Frank and I attended a workshop at NYU for parents of children with implants. It was quite informative. I am glad we attended. I think educated parents are the best advocates for their children. Frank and I need to be Cormac's voice when it comes to his education and making sure his educators are able and willing to teach him properly.

Since the boys were sick on Easter we really didn't do anything and I forgot I took a bunch of picture of them. I thought I would share. You won't get over how big they look.

Daniel, Christopher and Devon stopped over in the morning


Cormac wearing Pop Pop's hat


Ciaran being silly


Not too sick to eat cake!


Can you belive those are my babies sitting at the table eating cake? Where has the time gone. They will be two a week from today. I want to stop the clock for a while. I don't want time to continue to pass so quickly. I want to freeze them so I can continue to have them forever! I am so happy to see them grow up and turn into little boys but man, it is also so sad. I wish I could have 10 more of them. I think our house is so full of love and laughter and more children would only add to it. Now, most people think we are crazy that we say we would have more children but Frank and I don't think that way. It is such a blessing to have these little men.

OK, This is so great I had to post again today.

The FIRST EVER DEAF PLAYER SIGNED TO THE NBA!!! HE WEARS BILATERAL COCHLEAR IMPLANTS!!!

Cavs hoping to get big help
With Ilgauskas, Wallace ailing, legally deaf player Allred signs for 10 days

By Brian Windhorst
Beacon Journal sportswriter


Published on Friday, Mar 14, 2008

WASHINGTON: Lance Allred hopes it isn't his legacy, but he is now a part of history.

The Cavaliers signed the 6-foot-11 center to a 10-day contract Thursday as he was called up from the NBA Development League's Idaho Stampede. He will provide depth in the frontcourt with both Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Ben Wallace fighting back problems. But there is more to his story.

Allred is the first legally deaf player to play in the NBA. He's had about 75 percent hearing loss since birth but uses implants that allow him to be functional.

''It is an accomplishment. It's meaningful that I've made it to this stage,'' Allred said. ''I want to be known for more than that, but it is an honor.''


Allred played in college at Utah and then Weber State, where he was third in the NCAA in rebounding as a senior in 2005. He played a year in Europe and has played the last two seasons in the D-League, this year averaging 16.2 points and 10 rebounds to be named to the league's All-Star Game. He also played in summer league with the Boston Celtics last year.

''I am able to hear most things. Every now and then I will miss hearing a teammate, especially if he is behind me. I've been wiped out on some screens in my career,'' Allred said. ''But that means I have to pay extra attention and be very visually aware and sometimes that actually helps me see things before they happen.''

The Cavs allowed the 10-day contracts of Kaniel Dickens and Billy Thomas to expire. If the team wanted to keep either, they would've had to sign him for the rest of the season, under league rules.

In the locker room

• There's another magazine cover ahead for LeBron James. He's on the cover of next month's Vogue, along with supermodel Gisele Bundchen. James is one of just three men who have appeared on the cover during the magazine's 116-year history. The others were actors Richard Gere and George Clooney. He said it appealed to him because of his sense of fashion. James has been on the cover of Men's Health, Black Enterprise and Fortune over the last several months. He is also on the cover of ESPN the Magazine's 10th anniversary issue now on newsstands.

• James said Thursday he was still suffering some lingering pain and stiffness after a knee-to-knee collision with the New Jersey Nets' Vince Carter on Wednesday night. It was not enough to keep him out of the lineup.

• Delonte West is from suburban Washington, and he wanted to make sure his friends and family got to see him with his new team. He rented out a suite at the Verizon Center for his guests.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brian Windhorst can be reached at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/.

WASHINGTON: Lance Allred hopes it isn't his legacy, but he is now a part of history.

The Cavaliers signed the 6-foot-11 center to a 10-day contract Thursday as he was called up from the NBA Development League's Idaho Stampede. He will provide depth in the frontcourt with both Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Ben Wallace fighting back problems. But there is more to his story.

Allred is the first legally deaf player to play in the NBA. He's had about 75 percent hearing loss since birth but uses implants that allow him to be functional.

''It is an accomplishment. It's meaningful that I've made it to this stage,'' Allred said. ''I want to be known for more than that, but it is an honor.''

Allred played in college at Utah and then Weber State, where he was third in the NCAA in rebounding as a senior in 2005. He played a year in Europe and has played the last two seasons in the D-League, this year averaging 16.2 points and 10 rebounds to be named to the league's All-Star Game. He also played in summer league with the Boston Celtics last year.

''I am able to hear most things. Every now and then I will miss hearing a teammate, especially if he is behind me. I've been wiped out on some screens in my career,'' Allred said. ''But that means I have to pay extra attention and be very visually aware and sometimes that actually helps me see things before they happen.''

The Cavs allowed the 10-day contracts of Kaniel Dickens and Billy Thomas to expire. If the team wanted to keep either, they would've had to sign him for the rest of the season, under league rules.

My Lil Tees is Open for Business

Myliltees.com is officially open! Nadine and I have been working for months to get the business up and running. I am so proud of our final product. If you saw where we started you would get a chuckle out of it! If you are reading this please visit our website and pass it along to EVERYONE you know. We need to get the word out.

As for the boys, they are on the mend. Colin still says he has "owies" in his ears. Gotta love sign language! I am praying this illness passes quickly. They slept until almost 8:30 this morning.

The van is once again in the shop. The brakes are shot (I am hoping that is the only issue) I hate not having a car and hope to be back in it tomorrow.

Easter Weekend

Pics from the Easter Egg Hunt



Ciaran


Colin


Cormac



After meeting the bunny on Friday we thought we would continue with the Easter festivites. We attended an Easter Egg Hunt at the park by our house. It was a lot of fun. Ciaran really was on a mission and found more eggs than his bag could hold. I think he realized quickly candy was inside and he didn't want to waste any time!

Saturday evening we went over Aunt Mary's house for a little get together with The Lawrence Family. We always love seeing them and wish we saw them more often. The boys got some unexpected presents and were thrilled. Colin fell and hit his head and became so upset he puked. But he is fine. They were so wound up they didn't even fall asleep on the car ride home. I think they finally were in their cribs close to 9pm. That is UNHEARD of in this house. It's usually lights out by 7:30.

Easter morning when we went to get the boys to show them the Easter Bunny had visited and left some presents and his a bunch of eggs I noticed Cormac was very red. Well, poor little bugger had a fever of about 102. Colin wasn't looking to good either but only had a slight fever. What did this mean for the Lawrence family? It meant after breakfast I had to go food shopping and come up with an Easter dinner for our family. We couldn't take the boys out sick and we really didn't want Corinne to get sick from being around them. I managed to whip up a pretty decent meal and my Dad joined us and it was a nice relaxing holiday. (Considering I went to Shoprite and it was closed. I was very lucky to find another grocery store open) Even though the boys are sick they aren't cranky and seem fine.

Last night Colin was crying most of the night. He was not awake but crying in his sleep. By this morning he had a fever of almost 103. When I asked him what was wrong he signed he had an "owie" in his ear. Off to the Dr with all three. I only had two looked at because Ciaran seems fine. (for now) Colin has a double ear infection (his first ever) and Cormac has a really red throat. They tested both of them for Strep but I won't know until tomorrow. They all hate going to the Dr. I swear as soon as we walk in to the back they start to cry. They never did this until about 18 months old.

I am hoping they get well quickly. I hate to see them sick and unhappy.

We met the Easter Bunny

Today I we met Robin, Cailan and Michael along with my cousin Kristine and her daughters Olivia and Chloe at the mall to meet the Easter Bunny. The boys were so excited all morning as we were getting ready. They were even more excited when they finally saw the rabbit! No one was afraid. They were all signing rabbit and saying "hop" "hop". Ciaran and Colin jumped right on his lap. Cormac, who kept jumping into other familes pictures wanted to lay on the ground when it was actually our turn. But we did get a shot of all three looking at the camera. No one cried. We were quite a sight at the mall. Me pushing the triple stroller, Robin pushing the double.

I usually don't let the boys out of the stroller when I am alone since I am outnumbered but with all the help today I let them out. They were playing like crazy and it TIRED them out. They were asleep in less than ten minutes in the car and I transferred them all to their cribs and the are OUT! Gotta love letting them lose.

Tomorrow we are going to an Easter Egg Hunt in town. I can't wait. I am not sure if the boys will get it but it will be fun to try.

Cormac's new class

He started his new class today. He is now one of the youngest if not the youngest in the group. In his old group he was one of the oldest. The teacher told me today he was "full of energy". Another way of saying he won't sit down for a second. My mom watched Ciaran and Colin and they were fine when I left. Cormac actually wanted to go to school and for the first time when we pulled up outside he said "school".

Here's a cute story about Colin I wanted to jot down. On the way home from Maggie's on Sunday I thought they were all asleep in the car. It was nearly 9pm and they are NEVER up that late. We get off 280 and are driving past the K Mart. From the darkness in the backseat all Frank and I heard was Colin saying "Ka, Ka" (the K sound). We started cracking up. I guess you can't really miss the gian K at Kmart!

Not much to report since yesterday

Cormac had a dermatologist appointment today. His pediatrician wanted me to have his head checked out to make sure his hair pulling was simply hair pulling and not related to a dermatology issue. I was pretty confident it was just a habit and I was correct. She did comment on how fair his skin was and stronly urged me to keep him covered so he doesn't get sun damage. (also known as freckles she pointed out while looking at my face)

While we were at the office a couple was there. They asked about Cormac's implants. They have two grandchildren who both have implants. One is 5 years old and in mainstream kindergarten and the other is 3 years old and in preschool. It is alwasys nice to meet other people with cochlear implant stories to tell. I was just sent an article stating a fully implantable cochlear implant could be ready for studies in as little as 2 years. I think in Cormac's lifetime he will see some major changes in technology. The decision will then have to made if we think he will benefit and the surgery is worth it.

The new habit of standing on the window ledge to look out the bay window has proven to be as dangerous as I thought. I told them numerous times not to do it. Ciaran has a heck of a black eye to prove how dangerous it is. He fell and hit his eye on the bench. You would think this would discourage him from climbing there again. Not so much. He went right there this morning and he went directly to time out.

Colin has been crying on and off all day because he wants to wear Frank's baseball cap. I could care less if he wears the hat. But it is big on him and if it is not exactly how he wants it he gets upset. He wanted to sleep in it but kept freaking out everytime he rolled over and the hat fell off.

Cormac starts his new class tomorrow. It is most of the same kids with a few new ones. All the kids are older now so they divided them up from the smaller kids since their skill levels are so different. We haven't had class in two weeks so I am looking forward to getting him back to school. He seems to really enjoy it.

My new business I have been working on for months is about to become a reality. I think the website might be live by tonight. I really hope so. A lot of time, effort, thought and love have been put into nuturing this baby and I can't wait to see the rewards. I will send out an email to everyone as soon as it is ready. Hopefully, you all can send it to everyone you know and so on and so on.

Happy Birthday to US!

The boys are TWO today! I wanted to take some time to really remember what each of them is like at the moment. So, here it goes:

Ciaran Thomas exactly one year ago on his first birthday



Ciaran is a cuddler. He is the first to want to sit on your lap and snuggle. He is determined and head strong. He has a little bit of the devil in him. He may be small but he is mighty. He has something about his face that just makes me smile. When he smiles his eyes disappear. When he laughs it sounds nasally. He loves horses and books. He is smart as a whip but will not perform if asked. He likes to do things on his terms. He likes to be wrapped like a burrito when he goes to sleep at night. He loves the bath. He talks the clearest of the three at the moment and can say anything. He understands jokes and really "gets it". I believe he will be a real ball buster when he grows up. He is the quickest to get mad and also the quickest to just give you a hug for no reason at all.


Colin Francis at his first birthday

Colin: The best word to describe Colin is Jolly. His smile and his laugh are contagious. His laugh comes from so deep in his belly and he loves to laugh. His smile takes over his entire face. He is a joker. He is the biggest but the most sensitive. He loves to figure out "how things work". He can open any door, unlock any baby lock. He loves to do things for me. He is totally into trucks right now. He also loves his books. His favorite words at the moment are Yellow and Dirty. He loves to take a bath but doesn't really like the water over his face. I believe he just might be the class clown when he grows up. Colin is kind. Colin is so smart and will gladly share his smartness with anyone who asks.

Cormac one year ago

Cormac: I think the best word for Cormac is sweet. Everything about him is sweet. His smile, his laugh, his personality. He misses nothing. He only needs to be told something once and it is committed to memory for life. He is good for running across the room and hugging for no apparent reason. He loves airplanes and ducks. He also likes to read. Baby Signing Times is his obsession. He will watch any of the videos over and over and he can do EVERY stinkin sign in all the videos. He is like a sponge always soaking in his surrounding. He has a giant heart and you can tell already he loves deeply. He is kind and gentle. He LOVES babies. He wants to kiss and hug them. Oh, and I forgot Duke. Duke and Cormac have a special bond. None of us get it but the two of them understand each other. He is a performer and loves to peform for all. I think when Cormac is older he will be a natural leader.

None of them like when the other is upset. If one is crying the other two start saying "boo hoo" and acting upset. They love each other and it's apparent. They have different relationships with each other. It is fascinating to watch the dynamics of these relationships develop over time. Before Cormac could hear I think he was a little on the sidelines of this "triplet" dynamic. Sometimes I would get so upset because it would seem he was being left out but in actuality it was he just didn't realize Ciaran and Colin were doing something. Now they are a true threesome. A force to be reckoned with. I know they will fight and probably want to kill each other at times but I also know they will NEVER let someone else go near their brother without a fight. They are extremely loving towards each other and kiss and hug a lot. They also get mad at each other. Ciaran and Colin are the first to realize when Cormac's implant has fallen off and try their hardest to put it back on. They are and always will be his greatest teachers. He learns every day from them by having built in language models. They learn every day from him that their is nothing you can't accomplish. Some day they will understand Cormac is deaf and I know they will be his best support system. The three of them will always have each other's backs.

I marvel each day at how lucky I am in life. We may not be rich or have it all but we have a house FULL of love and laughter. I couldn't ask for more. These boys are the greatest gift I could have ever asked for and I never dreamed it could be so good. To know when I wake up each morning I go into a room of three beautiful smiling faces just waiting for their "Mama", well, that's enough to just bring me to tears. I try and not get caught up in our busy life and take time to enjoy the moments. They will not be small forever. They will not let me hug and kiss forever so I better do it while I can. But what I hope they do know is that no matter what, I will love them forever. Nothing could ever change the love I have for them.

I started this post on 3/17/08 since I knew it would take a while. In the past few weeks this boys have really started talking. They know every letter of the alphabet, numbers 1-10 and colors red, yellow, blue green and PURPLE. Purple has become a "tickle" word in our house. If you say it, you get tickled. They find this so amusing and will just run up to me and say "purple" to get it started. Cormac particularly loves this game. To our amazement he "gets it". He knows it's a joke to say the word. This is an accomplishment noticed by his teacher. Deaf children in general have a hard time learning when something is said one way and means another. They learn the words more literal meaning and it takes them sometime to pick up slang or jargon.

I think back to the day I found out about having triplets. Most people said "did you freak out?" But I really didn't. I was pretty calm and from the moment I was pregnant never had a negative thought. Not even when I went into labor more than once and they hooked me up to Magnesium causing me to feel worse than words could ever describe. I literally had no control over my eyeballs and wanted to vomit the enitre time. I just kept thinking I know these boys are going to be fine and WHATEVER is needed I will do. I also remember being about 31 weeks and going into labor again and thinking. "I don't know if I had handle Mag again for the 3rd time" But then in the next breath told the Dr. "ok, do whatever you need to" Luckily, I didn't need it because it was stopped on it's own. I never knew I could love Frank more than I already loved him. I have always known what a wonderful man he is and his love for me is unlimited. But for what he had to endure while I was pregnant and never complaining once, after watching him when each baby was delivered and him managing to not only videatape but also get a still photo! and never ever leaving my side once, my love and respect for him has only deepened. These last two years have been a lot of fun. Alot of marraiges are weakened by births of multilples. I have to say ours has only gotten stronger. He is an outstanding father. His sons love him. One of my greatest joys is to see his face and theirs each day when he comes home from work. They run and just attack him with hugs and kisses. It is a memory forever burned into my brain. Something I never want to forget.

I know this post is long and sappy but hey, I think I deserve a little sappiness once in a while!

What Didn't we do this weekend.

First, I'll start with an update on the car situation. The good news (well, I guess) is it is up and running. The bad news is it is up and running. I hate that damn mini van and thought this might be my chance to upgrade. But that clunker has decided to live on.... The gas guage is apparantly not working correctly.

Friday, Frank and I had plans to go to the Newark St Patrick's Day Parade (with no kids). My mom was supposed to watch the kids but came down with Strep Throat. Maggie was kind enough to skip the parade and watch Ciaran, Colin and Cormac. We were so happy to see so many family and friends. Not to mention consume some serious beer and not have to drive a car. (Strep throat and all my mom dropped us off and picked us up). Yep, at 36 years old my my dropped me off and picked me up from a bar. I didn't even make her drop me off around the corner. Frank and I were proud drinkers and didn't care!!!

Now, Frank and I like to think we can still party with the best of them. And, jeez, we sure can. BUT what I did notice is the recovery time is much longer than years ago. No hangovers but pure exhaustion. Took me to today to finally feel rested. But it was SOOO worth it.

Saturday morning we were up bright and early with the hooligans. We went to the zoo and joined for the year. It is somewhere we spend a lot of time. After the zoo in my exhausted state I drove to Staten Island to work on the new business. Frank stayed home with the boys.

Sunday we headed down to Maggie's because Aunt Juanita and Corinne are up from Texas. We can't miss an oppurtunity to see them. We had some dinner and Juanita's family was also there. Ciaran might have a new love named Jackie. She's an older women for him (I think she's 23?) but he has good taste! Jackie is Juanita's sister. But you know men, they can be fickle. Little Maggie showed up and he fell for her also. Now she is only 2 months younger than him. Cormac calls Juanita "nita" and they all call Corinne "In".

I love to see all the cousins together. Boy, have times changed in such a short time. Yesterday, there were six kids between 3 months and not even 2.

On a more serious note, please read the blog I copied below. It really hit home for me. This young baby has had such a rough start in life. He is currently in Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Please say some prayers for Jack tonight. He can really use all the prayers we have to offer.

Hello from CHOP. For the first time since we’ve starting posting updates, I’m kind of at a loss for words. Up until this point I’ve felt like I could handle anything that is thrown our way. But the past few days have been harder than ever. I miss holding Jack and hearing him babble. I miss changing his diapers and watching him grab for toys. If I can take one good thing away from Jack being on the respirator, it’s a promise to me never to take anything in life for granted. I told Chad tonight that Jack is going to have to follow one rule for the rest of his life no matter where he is. Whether on a business trip, studying for exams, drinking with his friends during spring break, or on his honeymoon he must call his mother everyday! Because after he comes off this ventilator, there will not be another day in my life where I will go without hearing his voice. So all of you reading this right now – CALL YOUR MOTHERS! They want to hear from you.

Nothing much changed this weekend. Jack is still stable. Tomorrow he’s having another bone marrow biopsy done. Hopefully there won’t be any over active histiocytes taking up space. From there we wait for his counts to fully recover so he can finish fighting off the infection. (We started to see an ANC and a slight white count this morning which is a good sign that they are beginning to recover.) And plans for a spleen embolization will probably be decided on this week sometime. We’ll keep you updated.

Thanks again for your support, love and prayers. Keep praying !

Love, Kristy, Chad, and Jack

Oh, today was BAD

It started out fine. Robin came over to watch Colin and Ciaran while I took Cormac to a special session at school. It was a great opportunity for him to be observed by The Moog School. They are leaders in the field of teaching deaf children to hear and speak. I was so excited. Cormac did wonderful as expected. Towards the end he had had enough. It was his nap time and he was exhausted. But all in all it was a success. I came home and Ciaran and Colin had a ton of fun with Aunt Robin and Cailan (she might be their favorite person on the planet besides me!!) Down for naps without a peep.

Frank calls and says he needs to work late. I decide I will take the boys to the mall and we will have dinner out. Great for me, no cooking and the boys will get out of the house for a while. Things did not go as planned. I pulled out of the driveway and the car seemed a little funny. By the time I got to the bottom of the hill it was no longer running. I got thru the stop sign and managed to park it with no steering or brakes. Just lovely. I decided I didn't need a jacket since I was just running into the mall. Now sitting in a dead car with no heat is a total different story. The boys were fine at first but were getting very restless from being strapped in their carsseats. By luck my good friend, Maritza happens to call and she comes to help. I thought maybe I ran out of gas because the gas light was on but I really didn't think that was possible. But hey, a girl can dream can't she? Maritza sits in my car while I drive her car to my house to get the gas can that already had gas in it. I come back and fill up the car. At this point the kids were upset because I left and wanted to get out of the car. No such luck. The car STILL will not start. Kids getting more upset. Now I have no choice but to put the boys in Maritza's car and drive up the hill to my house. Literally, it's less than a 10th of a mile. Colin FREAKS out beyond freaks out. I don't know if he was afraid or what but he melted down. Ciaran follows suit. And Cormac decides he LOVES this car sits down and smiles and claps. UNTIL he realizes he has to get out and he starts a major melt down. In their entire TWO years of life I have never seen te three of them this upset. It was very upsetting to see. Not to mention at this point my phone is ringing off the hook and I can't exactly talk with the three of them flipping out. He comes my brilliant plan. Mini Cadbury eggs... A moment of pure genius leads to a moment of SILENCE. At this point poor Maritza's ears were probably aching. She leaves and now they start to cry because she is leaving. At least they settled down quickly. Somehow in all this mess I managed to order a pizza (who says I am not a multitasker?) since it is now close to 6pm and my plan of eating out is out the window.

Oh, I forgot to mention when I got back to the house the lovely Duchess has busted out of the kitchen and tore open a plastic bag of dirty diapers. The mess was beyond description. Remember this... you will hear more in a while.

This pizza arrive and it is GOOD! Frank arrives home shortly after. The tow truck shortly after that Frank. Somewhere in this craziness we changed the boys diapers, put them in their PJ's, brushed their teeth and put them to bed.

I follow the tow truck to the mechanic and leave the car. And here comes the topper of the night.

Remember I told you what Duchess did??? Well she decided to PUKE up all the crappy diapers she ate. Can you think of anything worse than regurgitated crap? I was not home and Frank was left to deal with it. I probably would have killed her. Now I am home and trying to relax with the lovely scent of shit covered up by cleaning products.

Ciaran got hit in the head with a wood block and has a cut. Ciaran knocked a chair over and it hit Colin on the head and he has a giant bruise on is forehead.
I will end will this.... Tomorrow has GOT to be better. But then again they will probably call me and tell me our car is shot!

Just some random thoughts for today

I think I do more before 1pm (nap time) than the average person does in a day. I am really convinced. Let's take today for example, the boys were up by about 8. Change three diapers, go downstairs and make breakfast, clean up after breakfast, go back upstairs and dress all three (3 shirts, 3 pants, 6 socks, 6 sneakers, 3 coats and 3 hats) Carry them one at a time to the car because they can't yet be trusted not to run like maniacs into the street if I let them all out and walk. Strap 3 into their carseats. Drive to Target, get them all out and find the monster sized cart that holds three children. Strap them all into the cart. Get the few things I need and keep them entertained in the Target. Today, I bought them little light up easter eggs. It worked for a while. Leave target, get them all strapped into their seats and head to Costco. Unload them and restrap them into ANOTHER cart. Get what I need at Costco while trying to keep them happy. Normally, not a problem but Ciaran was in a grumpy mood and would not stop whining. Candy or as Cairan says "nandy" will quiet him down NO MATTER WHAT. Hmmm.... I wonder where he gets a sweet tooth from???? I am forced to buy a COSTCO size bag of candy just to give him a piece. It's probably about 4 pounds. Ok, we check out at Costco with of jumbo size diapers. Oh, I forgot to add that I have to answer at least 20 times "are they triplets?" and other questions by the inquiring public. This tends to slow us down in our travels. Now I leave Costco and strap them all back into their carseats, we drive home. Everyone walks into the house because I couldn't carry them. They run wild and play while I make lunch. They eat, upstairs to change three more diapers, everyone in cribs with the book they "HAVE" to have in thier crib. Blankets on and off to sleep.

CAN YOU GUESS WHAT TIME IT IS???? It is 1pm!

ANother little tidbit. Colin has mastered opening the baby gates. I swear most adults cannot open these gates. That little bugger can do it one handed. We have the same gates at the top of the stairs going into the basement and going from the upstairs to the main floor. I am not too worried about them falling down the stairs because they have been going up and down the stairs for over 6 months and at this point they walk down holding the banister BUT this is my only source of confinement. Now I can' keep them trapped in the family room or play room. You know, once one sees the gate open it is a mad scramble to see who can get down the stairs first.

Cormac is graduating to the big class at Summit Speech School. We will now be attending on Wednesdays. He is really progessing so quickly. He tries to say every word he hears and I swear he understands every word you say to him. I realize this will always be a learning process for Cormac and us. Each day is a new opportunity and presents its own challenges. So far, he has met each challenge head on and I know he will continue to do so. I know life will not be as easy for Cormac. He will always have to make adjustments in certain situations. He will always be deaf which is a hard thing to accept as a parent. Not because it makes him any less perfect but because no one wants their child's life to be any more difficult than it already can be. I wonder what the future holds for him. I know anything is possible for him. If he was born years ago i believe his future would be a different future. We as parents try and make the best choices for our children. I strongly believe we made the right choice to implant Cormac and give him the opportunity to live in the hearing world. I know so much controversy exists between the deaf community and parents choosing implants for their children. I think it is sad the two sides can't work together for the greater good of these children who are being born in a time where technology exists to help our children hear. These children and parents put in a lot of hard work. It is not easy for any of them. They need to work harder to "listen" and it get tiring for their little brains. I wish more people understood how a Cochlear Implant works and not just think he gets it and it's over. It is years of daily hard work by both parents and the children. The results speak for themselves (literally).

All this said, I wouldn't want my life to change one bit. I love what I do every day. Some days, yes, it is exhausting and I wonder why I left the house. But most days it is so rewarding. The smiles and hugs and kisses well they make up for all the work. Hearing "mama, wuv you". What more could you ask for???

A busy weekend

We started out Saturday morning with Breakfast with the Easter Bunny. We joined Robin, Mike, Cailan and Michael. Everyone enjoyed it. My kids love the Bunny. I thought they might be afraid but not these three. Ciaran literally jumped out of my arms onto his lap. He is usually the last to go to anyone and prefers to be held my me and only me but the Easter Bunny outranks Mommy. Colin and Cormac wanted to shake his hand (I guess paw?)since we have been working on shaking people's hands when we meet them and saying "nice to meet you".

I am lucky they are not afraid. Since they were born they were never afraid of Santa or the Easter Bunny.

Sunday was Michael's Christening and I was the lucky Godmother. He is so cute and couldn't have looked more adorable in his bowtie. I left the boys at home during the church because did we really need the three of them at church??? They joined us for the party after and had a BLAST. They love playing with all their cousins. It was probably one of the first times where we were able to just let all three down and not really watch them like hawks. I think since it was less people it was easier. They are so lucky to have such great cousins (Daniel, Christopher, Devon, Cailan and Michael) who entertained them the entire time. I think only once did I have to replace Cormac's magnets. And I knew it fell off because Cailan was such a smartie and came and told me. I realized Daniel and Christopher can do it for themselves and don't need to ask me. They are so big now.

The boys were so tired from our weekend they didn't wake up until 8:45am. I actually slept until 8:30. It's been a long time since I slept that late.

Let March Begin!

I started this post days ago and haven't had time to finish it. Nothing too earth shattering.

Anyone who knows our family knows that we start celebrating St Patrick's Day the first weekend of March. Nutley hosts its parade the first Saturday of March followed by Belmar the next day. Frank and I met for the first time at the Nutley Parade. I think it was about 10 years ago at this point. Lots of beer was involved but it all worked out for the best considering where we ended up!

Last year we took the boys to both parades and it was really the first time we had ever seen the parade even though we have been going for so many years. We would normally just go directly to the bar. It's always fun because we see lots of friends we only see at this time of year.

Maggie hosts a party for the Belmar parade and we went yesterday. We watched the parade for over an hour. Ciaran, Colin and Cormac had so much fun. They loved the bagpipers, the fire trucks and all the people. These babies are troopers. They were awake from 7am to 8pm with no nap. I am usually a stickler for their nap time but I let it go for the day. They were so happy and never complained.