Chapter Twelve

Going from having three kids to having six kids is was way more difficult than what I had expected it to be. Sure by now Jay and I were really comfortable with babies and kids in general, but even with the experience we had, when the triplets were brought home, the chaos began. Our bedroom at the moment was extremely cramped, we had Tory sleeping in our room since she was just a toddler and the two older boys had to share the only other bedroom in the house. Then when the triplets came home from the hospital, we had to cram three more cribs into our bedroom so that everyone would have a place to sleep. Jay and I no longer could switch every other night who would get up and who would sleep.. We both had to get up and do the routine of changing dirty diapers, bottle feedings, and a few minutes of snuggle time with the triplets. Saying that we were exhausted all the time is an understatement. I literally felt like a zombie for the whole time the triplets were babies, since we would be up at two o'clock in the morning, and then maybe get to sleep until six o'clock, get up and make breakfast for the boys who are school age, and then get Tory up and ready for a full day of play.



Tory, like her older brothers is a laid back little one. She hardly ever cried unless she was hungry or needed a diaper change. She loved to learn, and to explore, and overall just a happy baby. If I was having a bad day, all I had to do was look into her big green eyes and everything would just melt away.

Before long though, it was time for Gabriel's birthday. Tory had celebrated her birthday the month before and now I couldn't believe that our second born was going to become a teenager, and I was still in shock over the fact that our third born was now school age. I mean, it was a happy time for Jay and I as parents because it meant that things would get a little easier in terms of caring for the triplets. It was also a sad time as well because it just meant that my babies were all growing up and would soon be ready to move out and begin their own lives. Besides it still felt as if I should be a young woman, still bumbling through what life had to through at me. But instead I'm a happily married, middle age woman with six children, as well as one of the top surgeons in the world now. Life has brought me much success, much more than I could ever ask or hope for, and for all of that, I am very, very thankful.

Then just as quickly as they had arrived in the world, the triplets celebrated their first birthdays. Maci, being the oldest of the triplets is the leader of the trio, and can figure people out in a snap. Mya, is the second born of the triplets, and loves nothing more than to play with the xylophone or finger paint. Finally, Miles is the youngest of the triplets and he generally is content playing with the blocks, or snuggling with one of us. All three can be independent, and they are all really good babies, but at the same time they really do have different personalities, even if it is a very slight difference.

Now that our three oldest kids were in school, Jay and I focused mainly on the triplets during the day and taught them how to walk, talk, and of course potty trained them. They all learned at their own rate, and each other had a different strength than the other. Like Maci, she learned how to walk first, and Miles was the first one potty trained.

And Mya learned how to talk first. They were all three so very intelligent in their own ways. It was hard to believe that all three of them were mine and Jay's.



The boys loved the new trampoline that we bought for all the kids to use, since they have very little to do around the house. Trust me, when you have a house full of kids like we do, it's a very good idea to have something that will appeal to all of them. Blaine and Gabriel both absolutely LOVE the trampoline, I haven't seen Tory jump on there yet, but at least it's a hit with the boys. We also just moved across the street from our old home, and built a new house with most of our savings so it's like a new beginning for all of us, even though I do miss our old home, but our family just simply outgrew it. In this house, there are four upstairs bedrooms which are: Mine and Jay's bedroom, Tory's, Gabriel's, and then on the farthest side of the upstairs floor is the largest room, the triplets' bedroom. The fifth bedroom is located in the guest house which is where Blaine sleeps since he's the oldest, he deserves at least a little more privacy than the rest of the kids. They all have their own room except the triplets' who have to share, so they all have their own privacy in a way. The triplets' could care less though, all three of them are always together no matter what so it's not as big of a deal to them.

Time marched on and then the triplets' were becoming school age. It felt like just yesterday that they were born, and now all three would be starting elementary school. Where has the time gone?

Then just like that, Tory was becoming a teenager and beginning her journey through high school. Again, it's the craziest feeling in the world to be the mother of three teenagers, and three children, all school age, and all that much closer to leaving the nest.

I'm sure Tory wishes that she could have had a much more planned out birthday party celebrating her entering into her teenage years. But when you have a family this big, expenses pile up on top of each other like you wouldn't believe! Plus the recent move and building the new house pretty much drained the bank account. So I say that she's even lucky she got a birthday cake, but at least she was surrounded by her loving, supportive family who were all thrilled for her on her birthday. Time sure does fly by.

Eating breakfast together as one big family is a bit hectic in the mornings, same thing with dinner in the evenings. No one is hardly ever on time for dinner even though they're all at home by the time dinner is served. And very rarely do we all actually sit down together at the same time. But when we do it's a lot of fun. Everyone talks about their days at school, or chatters on about their favorite colors, interests, or what's happening around town. It's times like these that I don't feel overwhelmed by parenthood and being an adult running a household, in fact, it makes me feel so happy that I overcame my fear of becoming a mother and helps me realize that Jay and I did a wonderful job. All of our children have turned out wonderfully, and sure there are some rocky points, but what family doesn't have those? The point is we are all happy, and are all thankful to be a part of the same family.

Jay and I still manage to get a little alone time despite how many kids we have now, and how demanding my job can be. It's usually at night time right before bed that we can even find time to say hi to one another from the moment the day starts until it's almost at it's end. But even though we still don't spend much time together as a couple, there's nothing that either of us would change about it. I'm so thankful that this man was introduced to me, because he has helped shape me into a much better woman. It's almost silly of me to think back to the time when I thought that love was never going to find me... Because it did, in a big way, which has made all of this worth it. I only hope that all of our children find happiness, success, love, and whatever else their heart and mind may desire in their lives. But no matter what, Jay and I will always be there to suppor them, through thick and thin.