Ok, close your eyes...um...wait. I suppose you can't close them & read, right? Let's try this again. Don't close your eyes but try to visualize the following. Those of you that have pumped, you may get a better visual. I have a hands free bra which is basically a sports bra w/ 2 holes cut out so I can put the pumping cones in & not have to hold them w/ my hands. It is very convenient. So what I do is move the pump to the floor & then surround myself w/ toys & babies. I can pick them up, play w/ them, move them from the exersaucer to the floor mat to the bouncy chair w/o having to stop pumping. Hey, when you are a triplet mom, time is VERY valuable! I multi-task. You gotta do what you gotta do!
If you can believe this, I can also feed 3 babies at 1 time AND answer emails! I have Sofi in her bouncy chair w/ her bottle propped up using a Milk Maid propper.
Then I have Gabi wedged between the back of the couch & my leg & I prop her bottle. All this while I have Ian attached to the boob.
Yep, it is possible. While they are all eating, I am able to have 2 hands to answer emails or surf the web b/c Ian doesn't need me to hold him to stay in place to BF. Since I have a laptop, it sits in front of me on a boppy pillow, another great use for it besides for propping/holding/feeding babies.
You HAVE to get creative AND flexible to a certain degree. I'm not talking flexible w/ your scheduling b/c that is the only thing that keeps me sane at times. I'm talking flexible when trying to find solutions. Yep, you have to dig deep & use that brain to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Shoot, sometimes you have to take the whole thing apart & start over. Who am I kidding!?! Some people may think I am weird but I am going to do what ever it is that I need to do to make it.
That brings up another point. Everyone seems to think doing it on your own is hard. Maybe I am certifiably insane or maybe it is just easier to actually not deal w/ other people on a daily basis since I have a routine & I'm too lazy to explain it all to someone else. What ever the reason, it REALLY isn't hard to be here alone all day w/ my kids. Now, I may change my mind when they become mobile & I will have to write another blog about it & eat my words but for now, I like it. There are a few reasons why.
First, we have a good routine set up. I know what to expect & they know what to expect. It may be a bit repetative but it gets the job done & my kids seem to be just fine. Second, when someone comes over that hasn't been around before, I have to explain everything to them. Who wants to do that over & over again? Next, just like everyone else has *their* way of doing things, so do I. I feed the kids a certain way, change their outfits at certain times, put them down in a specific manner, etc. When someone comes over, those things change. Yep, I am a creature of habit. Why fix it when it ain't broke?
With that being said, I do have help a couple of times a week for a few hours. My MIL comes over & is a great help. By coming, it gives me a chance to pump w/o having to deal w/ all 3 babies or be able to run an errand quickly w/o dragging the babies w/ me. She also helps during the 1pm feeding. Sometimes my 13 yr old neighbor comes over after she gets home from school. We are friends & she likes to catch me up on her school/boy gossip about once a week AND she gets to see & play w/ the babies which she LOVES to do. That is also nice & allows me to mentor her at the same time. I guess that as much as I like being alone, a helping hand is welcomed. I don't want to sound like a hermit crab that hoards her children. I hope I don't come off the wrong way, haha!
When Todd gets home at 4:30, he is welcomed w/ open arms by the 4 of us. Perfect timing! From that point on, we work as a team. We have added daily walks b/c the kids have dropped their evening catnap. It is great to be a family!
Here are some more fun pictures of the kids...
Here is Ianchito pretending to be a big boy sitting in the big chair w/ the remote to the TV.
Here is Sofi after a really cranky episode. It never fails if I put her between me & the couch, she will fall asleep. This time she cuddled up to the pillow, just like her dad!
Gabi loves to roll around on the playmat!
One last picture...Kathy, a friend of Donna's, came to Houston & met the babies. She had the "magic" touch b/c when Sofi was acting up, she could calm her down. It is like Sofi melted in her arms. So cute!
5 comments:
I totally get what you mean about being alone and keeping your routine. Now, granted, I only have one, but during the day we have a pretty good routine going. And when anyone comes over, or even Daddy comes home early, that goes out the window. But I bet it helps to have regular visitors so that you can fit them into your routine and have it be the same every time.
I had to laugh at the pumping visual. I could really have used one of those hands-free ones. It would have been nice. But for you, I can see how it's a necessity.
And the babies are just getting cuter and cuter every day!
I had to comment, because I can totally relate and definitely agree! I always tell people I think I have it easy because all 3 are at the same level and I think if you have 3 kids at different ages you have to adjust to all that. I would take it our triplet way anyday!
I just wanted to tell you about how I feed all three of my girls at the same time...it works really well. It sounds like you have a pretty good routine going though! I have three boppys (nursing pillows), I set them all on the couch and prop their bottles with a bottle prop I got off ebay for 10 bucks each! Then I just keep an eye on them, make sure they don't choke or lose their bottle! I think its great you are still breast feeding, I gave up when they were three months old! I wish I didn't! Do you supplement any formula?
Megan ~ Yes, their last bottle of the day is formula. I pump for the last time after I go to bed. Also, I tried boppy pillows & they just wiggle way too much!
Astrid
I can relate to everything you said. I agree I rather do it alone then have to explain the way I do things to everyone, and why I do it that way. My DH works so many hours, he is only here and awake for 2 hours a day between 5pm and 7pm, thankfully because thats the only time I need and welcome help. I don't have triplets so I can't directly relate, but I have 3 under 3. None of them talk yet, one is special needs. My 3 year old with special needs operates on a 2 year old level. Then there is an actual 2 year old, and a breastfeeding 4 month old. I sometimes think, wow this would be so much easier if they were all 4 months old right now. I mean, heck, they all have to be toddlers at some point, but trying to take care of 1 newborn with 2 toddlers i hard. its like i have a newborn and a set of twins, except it probably would have been easier in the earlier months if they had been twins instead of 1 toddler and a newborn when it was just the 2 of them. okay, I don't make sense, but I think you are doing awesome. I know its got to be hard but I think it has its pro's too.
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