Our version of the Choo Choo Wagon

I have to blog about this thing called The Choo Choo made by Step 2. It is all the rage in the triplet world. Supposedly the best thing out there for carting around triplet toddlers. Problem is, Step 2 doesn't make it anymore so that is leaving triplet mommies all over the USA in a tizzy. Not me, never was interested in having one. It seems so bulky. Really. It does. And, how in the world would I fit it all in the back of my Honda CRV?

Because Step 2 is no longer producing this, the Choo Choo is now highly sought after on Ebay & Craigs List. I check from time to time to see if there is one near by, just to see. Not b/c I want one. Because I want to see how rediculously high the price is. For a 3 cart Choo Choo, I found that it is going for $450 around these parts. HUH? Who is insane enough to pay that amount for something used? Isn't there a better alternative & cheaper?

Well, let me answer that last question for you. YES. Pretty simple. Think outside to box people. Use the resources out there. Step 2 still makes a wagon for 2 that has a hitch for a tag-along trailer. PERFECT. I found one for only $50, both pieces.



The kids love to be pulled around this & makes for great short evening walks. I'm looking forward to decorating it for Halloween & pulling the kids around in their costumes. Would I die to have this? Nope but it sure is a fun change for us all! The best part, it all fits in the back of my CRV w/ the 3 kids in the back seat & my hubby in the front seat next to me. Still room to pack a cooler full of goodies too. I think we will take a trip to the zoo using our newly aquired red wagon & trailer.

Any triplet moms out there looking for a solution to the long sought after Choo Choo, consider this as an alternative. Totally worth the price!

Little Red Wagon

On Wednesday, w/ the help of a friend (& neighbor), we visited a local plant nursery. We left around 9:30 & didn't return until 11:30. It was a great little trip! The kids seemed to really enjoy themselves.

When we got there, we noticed a row of Radio Flyer wagons. You know, the red wagons we all used to be pulled around in. They have them so customers can use them for plants. We, on the other hand, used them to put the babies in. Their very first ride in a little red wagon!


Just about to go in to the nursery! I think I was just as excited as they were.


Sofi was having a blast. She held up the whole crew as they would start leaning back the longer we walked.


The kids seemed to really enjoy being pulled around. The plants were beautiful! I got several ideas for things I want in the yard, maybe not this year but definitely next year. I was even able to actually be in a few of the pictures since Jane took them. They especially liked the lily pond.




I have to say that our new snack cups really made the process a bit easier. They are Munchkin brand snack traps. The kids LOVE them. I was able to feed them in the car w/ minimal mess & they were able to carry them inside the nursery. What a lifesaver!

All in all, we had a wonderful morning excursion. I hope to do it again very soon.

Neurologist Follow Up

Hmft. No real answers. Nothing great to report but nothing bad either. I feel like we are going in a circle. They are doing a chromosomal microarray test to see if there are any abnormalities. The only thing mentioned was Fragile X Syndrome. Honestly, Ian does not fit the profile or symptoms of Fragile X. To read more, click the link below.

Fragile X Syndrome

After reading many things & seeing videos, I can say that I highly doubt that this is the issue. He would have presented problems before the cerebellitis. I know he is going to be fine. They aren't even wanting to see him again for another 6 months. It is recommended that we do go ahead & start speech therapy & try to get his PT upped to more times every month rather than just once a month. I am going to try to get this to happen sooner than later.

I did ask about cerebral palsy. It has just been nagging at me but the neurologist said pretty definitively that isn't the situation. No need for another CT scan or MRI. Seems like we are just going to have to sit & wait for the chromosomal test to come back in a few weeks. Waiting sucks.

I promise to have pictures the next time. We were able to go to a native plant store near by & had a blast. I'll blog about it later.

I can't live w/o internet.

It just isn't possible. Ok, so it really is & I get lots of reading done but man, it sucks to not have internet/cable/phone service. COMCAST SUCKS. That is all I have to say about the situation.

In kid news, Ian is officially taking steps. They aren't the most steady I have ever seen BUT they are steps. He has done it in front of everyone & they say it is official. He is no longer just a crawler. It is still his preferred mode of transportation & I know it will be a while before he leaves crawling behind but he is getting so much more steady, it is amazing! I knew in my heart of hearts that he would be walking by the time he was 18 months old. HA! I honestly think he won't even need braces. He seems to have made a huge leap in his strength & balance. We'll see what the neurologist, Dr. Brown, thinks on Thursday.


The girls are doing magnificently. Gabi is just gabbin' away every chance she gets. Sofi, after a bout w/ a tummy virus last week, is back to her old self. Puke is not fun to deal w/ & we are glad she is all better. Here are a couple of shots of the girls modeling the bows I have been making. Please forgive the crappy quality. They move too much to get a good shot!



My neighbor, Katie, also came to play w/ the kids & help me out on Friday when Sofi wasn't feeling well. She is such a sweet kid! Gabi really, really likes her. Wouldn't leave her side. She particularly liked to lay or sit on her. It was the funniest thing!



Katie also helped take care of the kids last summer, when they were still itty-bitty things. She is now a high school freshman & started yesterday. We missed having her around this summer but she was a busy gal. She was a fantastic mommy's helper. I wish I had the money to have had her again this past summer. Maybe next summer. Until then, we look forward to the after school visits!

Another visit to the fire house!

We love our fire fighters! I really want to keep in touch w/ the guys & gals that helped Ian out when we called 911. Our fire house is awesome. No doubt about it. I decided that they needed brownies for their Tuesday night meeting so on Monday I whipped up a batch. Um, no. Not from scratch. From the box. It's the thought that counts, right? Unfortunately we didn't get to see any of the people that worked w/ Ian but it's ok. We know they enjoyed the brownies!


We have changed where we play most of the day to downstairs. We spend more time in the living room as there is much more space for the kids to run around. We also have their little chairs in there & when 11am hits, they are ready to watch Barney (yep. never thought i'd see the day when i let me kids watch barney but it works.)


Sofi ended up running a low grade fever yesterday but it seemed to go away as quickly as it came. I'm suspicious of teething or that same 24 hr virus that Ian had on Saturday. What ever the reason, she was super clingy. I don't mind clingy but I couldn't get anything done yesterday. She did pretty well through the night, only waking at about 4:30. I quickly gave her some Tylenol, cuddled her for a second & put her back down. I almost took her out to the pallet in the hall where I was sleeping but quickly reminded myself that we worked really hard to get those kids to sleep in their cribs & didn't want to reverse our efforts.

I want to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my brother. He turned 30 yesterday. We were able to get Grandma Donna & Papap to babysit while Todd & I went to meet my family for a dinner celebration. Man, am I out of drinking practice! It only took a couple of margaritas for me to be nice & toasty, toasty. I'm paying for it today. Not so much a hang over in the traditional sense but I can definitely tell my body isn't use to the alcohol, LOL! At least I'm a cheap drunk, huh?

Multiples & More Blog Interview!

I just had to share w/ everyone that I was interviewed by Multiples & More! My interview has been posted today. Please take a peak!

Multiples & More Interview

All better!

I think it is safe to say we are back to normal. What ever the issue was, it resolved itself by Saturday night around 11pm. Now, this was after a 5pm cool bath, mind you. We know for sure it was a virus b/c we got blood taken at the pedi's. We also know it wasn't the flu (obviously if it was, I would still be dealing w/ a sick baby). The girls managed to escape it this time or their immune system did a good job fighting it off. Either way, Todd & I will be able to sleep in bed together tonight.

I had to take a picture of our make shift bed right outside the kids' door. We can't sleep in there b/c if they see us, they want to be w/ us so this was the best solution. We were able to keep the door open about 1/2 way without them seeing us. When we woke up Sunday morning, we closed all the doors & the baby gates & had a big cuddle puddle. It was great!


Yesterday, as a special treat, Abu (my dad) brought the kids some rainbow sherbet. I think they liked it. This picture perfectly captures each of them!


Don't ask me how the girls fit on this toy but somehow they put it upside down & sat in it, TOGETHER. I tried to take a picture of how their legs were all intertwined. Ian just decided to sit next to them. Smart boy.