my 2c on Oprah today

As I was folding laundry, I turned on Oprah today.

I WISH I WOULD HAVE TURNED IT OFF!!!!!

Curiosity just kept me watching. Kind of like a bad movie...I just have to see how it ends (thinking it just must get better).

Well I really feel sick. I feel woozy and sick to my stomach!

If you didn't see it then good. If you did--then this post is for you!

I'm against it! Don't ask!

triplets getting into things

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRNC4oqmw9k&mode=related&search

Check this link out. It made me teary eyed.

I had a dream

I had a dream last night. The only part of it I remember is the part I woke up during.

I dreamed I was chewing gum and trying to make huge bubbles. There was so much gum in my mouth, I had a hard time chewing it.

Then it popped all over my face. I was trying to get it off of my face with my mouth. That's when I woke up to find that my mask slipped down and I was chewing on my mask.

I investigated the mask. I do have one bite mark, but I don't think I ruined it. Strange huh?

HCA Picnic and other stuff

I made a dress for Ashley. I'm so excited about it. I did it without a pattern. Wahoo. I just looked at another one of her dresses and based it off of that.

What I wanted to do is make a dress for Ashley and one for a doll and give them to her for her birthday at the end of the month.

But when I finished making this dress, I didn't have enough material to make one for a doll. So I guess I'll have to try again with more material.

I'm going to let Ashley where this dress on Sunday.

I'd love to show you a picture, but I can't get my pictures onto the computer. I have so many cute pictures from last weekend too, when we went to the HCA picnic. UGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGH!

The kids rode on ponies and they just had a blast. Austin didn't want to get off. But we insisted that other people needed to take turns too. Ashley tells me everyday that she wants to go back sometime.

The kids and I got temporary tattoos. Ashley and I got butterflies. Austin got musical notes. And Mason got an ice cream cone. His was the first tattoo to come off and he told us that it melted.

Then I got a 15 minute massage. That was really nice. His company party does it up right.

The kids threw eggs and thought that was the funniest thing.

Then we went to get into the pool and they heard thunder so we all had to get out. The kids were SO disappointed! But it was still a fun day.

Now I just have to get these pictures off and SAVED before Saturday. I just know I'll be taking lots of pictures next week. I just love The 4th of July and all the activites that go with it.

frustrated with computer

Ugggggggggh! I'm so frustrated. I can't figure out why my computer will not download the pictures from my camera.

Matter of Fact

Two cute stories:

Austin: Mom, when I grow up Im going to marry Caroline and fall in love with her. But not when she's a kid, when she's a mom.

(of course then we had to explain...that you get married BEFORE you become a mom.)

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Austin: Mommy, is it my turn? (he wanted to play with Ashley's doll)
Me: yes.
Ashley: Will I get it back?
Me: Yes Austin, Ashley will get it back in a little while.
Austin: How about after not? How about not?

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I said I was going to put on pictures, but Greg needs to use the computer....so I'll have to do it tomorrow.

They go to VBS tomorrow...Hip hip hooray!

Spending money

Yesterday we had a really great time at Greg's company picnic. It was a blast. I'll get on later with some pictures and tell more about it.


But today: We usually go out to eat on Sunday afternoons. And today we were coming home to eat because we didn't have the money to go out. So we were trying to explain this to the kids. And Austin said, "Well go home first, go up into my bedroom and get my piggy bank. You can have the money out of there so we can go out to eat."

What a precious little soul!

Greg told him he wanted him to save his money {all $3 of it}. And that we didn't have to go out every Sunday.

drinking wine from a 3 year old

Greg just told me this and it just made me laugh!

It's funny the things they remember and how it comes out in a conversation like this:

Austin: Uncle Wes drinks wine?
Daddy: yes he does
Austin: But, he doesn't drink enough to do dumb things.
Daddy: yes he likes to drink wine, but he only drinks a little at a time, so that he doesn't do dumb things.
Austin: We don't drink wine because it's NASTY.
Daddy: That's right it's NASTY.

update

Just wanted those of you who know Dana, she left an update on Braxton in the comments of Blogging for Dana and Me.



I took the kids to see the Wallace and Grommit movie today at OpryMills. Ashley and Mason really got into the whole thing. And Austin just wanted to leave and go somewhere else most of the movie. Ashley and Mason were talking about it on the way home.

My friend Doris called me yesterday and told me of another VBS next week. I'd like to take the kids because they really like VBS, but I have to run it past the boss first. It makes him very nervous. He is SUPER protective. (Greg if you are reading this....we know people who go to this church.)

SOCKs

You know how sometimes you lose or just can't find socks and you wonder where they went? Did the dryer eat them? I have been running out of socks and knowing I have more. I thought for sure I had done the laundry with socks in them, but laundry is a never ending cycle and I thought they just must be in the load I haven't done.


Well I found them!! My kids have taken their socks and my socks and Greg's socks and put them into Kroger grocery bags and they were stuffed away in their toys.

YEP!!! 68 pairs of socks and several single socks (not counted). That is over 136 socks that I matched and put away.

How could someone miss 68 pairs of socks? They've been gone for months. I don't know!
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This morning Ashley wanted Poppyseed chicken for breakfast. Well I told her we didn't have any poppyseed chicken and she said, "Well put it on the list".
She knows I keep a grocery list running on the refrigerator. I thought that was cute.

Blogging for Dana & Me

Well first of all we would like to say Happy Birthday to Jann! It's not late it's just spreading the joy out to another day. :)

Well Father's day started out pretty good for me. I went to church and both class and the sermon was really excellent. I typically have a really hard time paying attention to the preacher for any length of time (ADD). But He was on fire on Sunday and he kept my attention. Both class and the sermon was about connecting/community within the church. We took Greg out to Cozymel's for Father's Day. It was pretty yummy.

Then Dana called...
Braxton was having an episode (as she puts it). His heart rate was up to 290. They decided to take him to the hospital, because they couldn't get it down themselves. So I rushed to their house to take care of Dalton. They took Braxton to Summit Hospital. It was not set up for cardio pediactrics, but they were able to get him stable. His heart rate was still high but stable. It took 4 times to convert him to get him stable. The last time this happened this bad, was 3 years ago on Father's Day, so it hasn't been the best day for them.

Summit wanted to trasfer him to Vanderbilt Childrens, but Vandy was slammed packed. They didn't want to take him because he was stable and they just didn't have the room. And Summit didn't want to keep him because they didn't have a pediactric cardiologist. So this went on and on for hours. Finally Vanderbilt agreed to take him. So then the next hurdle...the summit ambulance didn't want to take him because they were not set up for pediactrics. They had to wait for a Nashville ambulance to come and transport him. No one wanted to take responsibility. Obviously this was quite frustrating for Dana.

All the while, Braxton is hooked up to several wires and is hurting and just wants to go home.

They finally got him to Vanderbilt approximately 2:00AM. They were able to get his heart rate lowered. Now I really don't understand what happens, but I believe Dana told me they have to stop his heart to make it slow down and start pumping normally. Dana and Mike held it together very well. On the way over to their house I prayed for all of them as well as for myself to not be a basketcase because I knew they didn't need that to deal with too.

Dalton was SO good. He asked, where is Braxton? or Where is Brax? or Where is my brother? several times. Dalton and I played with trains and drew trains. Then around 8:30PM I said it's time to wind down. So I put on Thomas DVDs. Dana told me he would fall asleep on the couch. But he must have been too wound up. So by 11:00PM, I was tired too and I just said, "OK Dalton, I love you it's time to get in your bed." I hugged him and said I am right here. I really didn't think he would stay there, but the phone rang. It was Dana giving me an update and she told me where the CD player was. So I went in to turn it on and Dalton was out...just like that. It made us laugh a little bit.

So Mike came home around 3:30AM to relieve me and I went home to get a little sleep. I got 3 hours of sleep, poor Dana got something like 35 minutes. I was still tired so I sent my kids to a friend's house and came back and slept 3.5 more hours.

On the way home Dana called me and talked to me so I wouldn't fall asleep. And she was telling me what she would like to do for Jann's birthday. So Jann we were going to send you some really fun email (and we still might). I can't believe how she was thinking of others at this time, but she was. She is such a wonderful friend.

Please continue to pray for Braxton, this looks like something he will need to deal with the rest of his life now. Also, pray that Dana and Mike make the right decision in what medicines to give him. Some that are prescribed are very dangerous...if given too much he could die. So please keep them in your prayers.

WOW! more on this later, but I just got a call from a friend who is really struggling with religion. I've been on and off the phone with her for over an hour. It's strange how we got 2 different things from the sermon on Sunday. I was so excited about it, I took it as how we should be and she was reminded of how we used to be. Even though this has been a difficult conversation, it is really helping me hone in on what I truly believe and why. So how about keeping me in your prayers about saying the right thing; and for her to not hurt and be able to find a place where she can talk about God freely.

Little Miss Manipulator

What am I going to do with my daughter? She is only 3 and she is a master manipulator.

Last night, I watched Braxton and Dalton while their parents went out to eat. So that made 5 three year olds. It really wasn't bad, but by 9:30 I was tired. Anyway, here is what my daughter did.

1. She shared her pink blankie with Braxton. She doesn't let anyone else touch it. In her manipulating voice she said, "Braxton (pronouncing every syllable like in the south) come sit next to me. You can share my blanket." So he shared it with her for a while and then he got down and did other things.

2. Later, while Braxton was playing with trains, she started up again. "Braxton come sit next to me." No response....Braxton was busy. So she says it again, "Braxton come share my blankie with me." No response again. So she yells out, "DO IT." I then got on to her that she was being rude.

3. Ashley was getting very tired. She asked me if I could scratch her back. I told her I couldn't because I was doing something. So she went on and on "I want SOMEBODY to scratch my back. Braxton, will you scratch my back?" I said, "Ashley leave him alone he is eating." So she continued to complain, "I want SOMEBODY to scratchy scratchy my back." So I tuned her out. So in about 5 minutes I guess Braxton had had enough. So he said, "Ok I'll do it."
He went over to her scratched her back and she lifted her shirt up so he could scratch some more. He stopped and she said, Thank you and he said your welcome. Then guess what? "Dalton, will you scratch my back?" And Dalton was right there to scratch her back. What am I going to do with her?

4. At VBS the teacher told me today that Braxton and Ashley hold hands everywhere they go.

So I was telling Greg about this and he is quite concerned about her. He said, "where did she learn this? It's not like you are a vixen or anything." Oh thanks Greg!

This is a picture of them yesterday at VBS. I told them to act silly. It was the best picture I got of them.



So I think I need some parenting advice. What do I say or do with Ashley?

freestyle challenge

Ok this is very different for me. I decided to take the challenge on http://www.autumnleaves.com/freestyle/ for this week. And here is my entry:

It is of the kids' 3rd birthday party. I did a lot of stitching. I also wrote directly on the pictures. It's definitely not my normal style, but I like it.

half asleep

My my my my my....I'm tired and tomorrow I might tell you why.

I always feel like I need to write something, even when I'm half asleep and can't really function well enough to tell a story.

So goodnight. I'll try to update tomorrow.

VBS and stuff

Ahhhhh! The second week of VBS. I purposely didn't tell Greg I was taking them to another VBS until after they went the first day. He is a big time worrier! And I wanted to be prepared to answer his questions. So I checked it out thouroughly. I LOVE THIS VBS! They are so organized and keep the kids going to different activities. The kids just loved it and came home talking all about it. The theme is around the world. And yesterday, they learned about Honduras and they made these cute hats and some maracas.

We met Greg for lunch and I told him and he growled at me. ***So Greg have you figured out yet that I'm looking for VBS's all over town to keep them busy all summer?*** How can you say no to children learning about God everyday?

Today I went for my annual. Got undressed and on the table when the nurse came in and said my doctor had to perform a c-section. So I could wait around for at least an hour waiting for her to come back or reschedule. So I rescheduled. UGH! Ok so I just wrote that and now I'm nervous about who might be reading this. Someone just linked me to their blog because I have triplets. So who is out there lurking?

Anyway, you can see that I cared enough to go back and erase it (ha!).

So this morning Mason came up to me like this:

After he showed me, he said, "ok ok I'll put them on the right way." He's so cute!

After school today we went to Dana's house for the kids to swim in the little pool. My battery was dead on my camera. UGH! Doris and Gabriel came too. The kids had fun splashing each other. Well except for Mason who does NOT like to get his face wet at all. Braxton and Ashley went off together to water plants.

When I was undressing Ashley to put her regular clothes on, the boys noticed her. One of the boys said, "you don't have a penis" and Ashley insisted that she did and tried to show them. Oh GEEESH! I told Ashley she did not have a penis. I refrained from using the "v" word this time, because I didn't know if the other mom's were ready to get into that conversation. I guess I'm going to have to be a little more discrete while dressing her now.

Have a good day! I'll try to check in tomorrow.

happy spiders!

My kids are ALL ABOUT Happy Spiders. They learned about them from the Barney Halloween Video. So Saturday we made these happy spiders.

This one is Ashley's. It has 2 eyes, 2 cheeks, mouth, nose, one eye brow, 2 ears, one elbow and 2 feet.










This one is Austin's spider. He came downstairs a little later than the other 2. So he has 2 green eyes, 2 cheeks, nose, a mouth and 2 elbows.











This is Mason's spider. He kept asking for more and more things to put on his. He has 2 eyes, 2 cheeks, a nose, 2 ears, 2 eyebrows, 2 feet with toes and 1 elbow.

SO....when I was getting ready to go to Scrap It, Mason said he wanted more parts to put on his spider. He said, he wanted legs, arms and hands and breasts. I laughed. I told him Daddy would have to help him because I had to leave. So I was retelling Daddy what he had said to me. And when I got to the breasts. Daddy said Noooooooo, we're not going to make breast. And Mason just very sweetly said, "but I wanted to make a girl spider."

Happy Birthday Dad

Today, June 9th is my Dad's birthday! Happy Birthday to you Dad! I hope you had a good one!

I got to go scrapbooking tonight. I had such a fun time! I got almost 3 layouts completed. I'm still trying to figure out how to finish my 3rd layout. And I'm excited I get to go back tomorrow and scrapbook some more. My honey is so good to me.

Where is the 3rd? & Happy Birthday Mom

I realized yesterday that there is something really great about multiples. I think every Mom gets worried when they first send their children to school or to camp or VBS. But what is so great about multiples is that everyone is fascinated with them. I get a lot of cutesy remarks regarding the triplets. And yes the first 2 times you hear them it's cute. But the 10,352nd time gets to be annoying. I try not to show that it's annoying because it's mostly well meaning people who just want to say something. Ok so back to my point, I realized that when people see my kids they are always looking to make sure they are all there. I felt validated this morning as I took the kids into VBS today. As a Mom I would worry, if one went out the door would anyone notice. But I walked in the door the boys ahead of me and I was holding Ashley. From the office I heard a lady say, "that looks like the triplets....Where is the 3rd one?" Yes it is something I often hear, but it validated that they are looked out for. So if they are not looking out for each other...it's a good thing people are fascinated with them.


AND.....TODAY is my Mom's Birthday! Happy Birthday Mom! The kids called her today and sang happy birthday to her.

little camera

I love my little camera. It's not the best of the best. But it does me just fine. It's a Nikon Coolpix 5200. It's small and I carry it in my pocket just about every where I go. Digital cameras are just so wonderful! (Especially with multiples!) You can snap 100 pictures without fear that you are wasting film. And maybe out of 100 pictures you might actually get a good one.

The kids went to VBS again today. THEY LOVE IT! Austin was saying he wants to go back. I wonder what they do that really gets them excited about it. I've asked them, but with what they say, nothing stands out different than a church day. Now I know they get together with all the ages and sing. I think that is cool...but they never mention that. They just mention what they learned and the toys in the room next to their class. So I just wonder what it is that makes them want to go back. Hmmmmmmmm.....!
So...Since my kids love VBS so much, does anyone know of any local daytime VBS's coming up in the next few weeks or months?

P.s. The kids had some fun moments today...but I'm letting Dana blog first about them. Plus she got better pictures than I did. (yes- that's a hint Dana)

ahhhh....peace at last

What a day!

This week is VBS at my kid's MDO church. We invited Dalton and Braxton to come too. They are thrilled to be there. This is a picture of them the first day. They did this on their own. We didn't ask them to hold hands. I thought that was so sweet. I think Ashley and Braxton have a thing going on. :) He held her hand at the butterfly place to protect her from the butterflies. And when they walk out the door to go to the car they hold hands. It's so cute. I know Dalton made his move first, but Ashley set him straight right away. Both of them like to be in control---that would never work.

So while the kids played so did their moms! Dana came over and we played around with tiles. I made a few wedding presents.

So when I picked up my kids today, that is when things started going downhill. This was their 2nd day with their new teacher. Last year they did NOT like their teacher at all and it was so hard to get them into the car to get to school. Today, when I went to pick them up Mason had a fit because we were leaving. He wanted me to get his drink out of the car and come back in. So as I was fighting with Mason. I was also telling the others to get in the car. This is where I may have made my fatal mistake. I may have said to Ashley get in the back. OH CRUD! It's Austin's Day today and he gets to sit in the back. So now Austin is yelling at Ashley and Ashley said, Mommy said I could sit here. So then they are yelling at me. I told Ashley I'm sorry but it is Austin's day. I physically have to move her. And this is where she goes BALISTIC! I have never ever seen her this bad before. So she is squirming out of her car seat trying to get her cup on the floor. I reach over and get the cup for her and fought with her to get back into her seat. She throws the cup on the floor, because she wanted to get it herself. This went on for quite awhile. I told her if she didn't get in her seat I would have to spank her. And I had to. So then the story continues....
She finally reaches the cup on her own and then cries for me to open her drink holder tray. I reach back while I'm driving and open it. When I do that I break my nail. It was really irritating so I tried to bite it off. This is where it gets comical. My nail gets stuck in my tooth and it is still atached to my finger. Ashley starts screaming even louder. I thought may be I caught her finger when I opened the tray. So I can't get my finger out of my mouth, driving down the road afraid that now my daughter is hurt and I start to panic. Austin's yelling up to the front..."Mommy don't cry". I can't talk to him because my stupid finger is still stuck in my mouth. Finally I'm able to get it loose. I'm not even sure what happened next. I just know that I've past at least 2 cops and I'm driving faster to get home. They must have known not to mess with a woman who has her finger stuck in her mouth.

I made it home safe. I tried to put Ashley to bed, but she just freaked out. So I sat down to watch Sleeping Beauty with them. Ashley in my right arm leaning on me. Mason on my left arm. And Austin at one point is sitting on my shoulders. Mason fell asleep. But Ash and Aus did not.

Oh but that's not all...(Are you still with me?)

Ashley wanted to paint. She wanted to paint something other than paper, but I didn't have anything else. So she settled for a big piece of paper. I put it on the floor and give her some paints. Well she uses all that paint and then goes and gets the jars of thank goodness Crayola Washable Paint. Austin joins in. (This usually means trouble). I said "DO NOT dump the paint." Austin said, "See, I have a hard time with that" I said, "just use your paint brush and don't dump the paint." Austin, "Well Mom, I just have a hard time with that." So I turn around to see paint dumped on his paper. Big HUGE piles of paint. So what happens next...I'll just let the pictures describe the rest of the story...

Oh I forgot to mention that Ashley finished painting on one side and turned it over to paint on the other side.

And thanks to Dana who is bringing her carpet steam cleaner over tomorrow so I can get the footprints of paint off the steps leading up to the shower.

I had to wake up Mason- and when I do that he is grumpy. So the last 3 hours were just screaming, crying and whining from all three. I fianlly got them all in bed and at 9:00 I had some peace.

Greg had to go to church camp to give a talk...so he didn't get home until just a few minutes ago (10:15PM) He did well until the very end when it turned into a dissaster. Now he's afraid parents are going to be calling the church and he is going to have to defend what he said. Long story but for another day. Poor Greg!

Elsie- Who is she?

Will my scrapbooking friends please enlighten me on who Elsie is?

thanks!

Address to Butterfly house

Before I forget...

Many of you have asked where the butterfly house is.

The name of the place is Bloom's nursery and landscaping (AKA Green Thumb Nursery and Garden). It is at 610 Thompson Lane.

It's $4 for adults and $3 for children.

B is for Butterflies

Yesterday the kids learned about butterflies. Ms. Dana was their teacher. She specifically asked me not to take any pictures of her. And usually I respect that, but this picture is so good of her. Besides, you should see the picture she has of me on her blog: http://www.beckmantwins.blogspot.com/

She did ask me "after the fact" if it was ok. So I guess I'll just ask her "after the fact".

The kids colored butterflies and their pupas. Yes that was a new word for me too.






Then after our lesson we went to the butterfly house to see REAL butterflies.





Braxton said he wanted to touch a butterfly. He patiently put his arm out very still everytime one came near to him. And one actually got on him. He was SO PROUD. After that Mason tried to hold his arm out for one to fly on him. But it was more like he would put him arm on them and scare them away. And Austin- OH AUSTIN. I think he was pretending to be a SPASTIC butterfly. He was so excited he just ran around flapping his arms. And Ashley, well she said she was going to be brave this time. But it didn't happen. I had to carry her most of the time. Dana relieved me for a few minutes, just as the butterfly got on Braxtons arm. I hope she got a good picture, despite holding Ashley. And while we were there we even got to see the pupas. It was very facinating and beautiful and educational.