Mother Long Legs

That is what Abby calls female Daddy Long Legs. :)

What a few weeks! We survived 6 days without electricity. Hurricane Ike actually did a lot of damage here is Louisville. How funny. I lost a lot of branches from my trees. The front yard is cleaned up but the backyard is a disaster zone. With the cool weather coming in I should be able to get a lot of yard work finished. The girls enjoyed being able to play outside a lot. We cooked on the grill every night. Brigid especially like the peas on the grill. Egg rolls are amazing and a personal favorite on the grill. We got a lot of house cleaning done that week. And the time at the dinner table with candles as our only light was just not something to have been missed. I felt like the girls and I got just a little closer that week. The hardest for me was that our phone lines were down as well. And anyone who knows me knows what a horrible thing that was!!!! I'm just glad everything is back on track and we survived.

I'm still waiting to hear from that school on whether I got the job or not. I had three interviews total including one on Friday with a member of the Parent Advisory Board and three other people. If I don't get the job I think it would be mainly because I don't have experience as a paid employee managing 20 something people. I've done it in volunteer capacity, as President of the U of L Young Alumni Association, but not on a continuing, paid basis. I'm just waiting to hear today!

Brigid is the Star Student of the Month for her Kindergarten classroom this month!!!! There is a little party for the Star Students tomorrow morning at school and I can't wait! I am so PROUD of her. She has the tendency to be a bit sassy and VERY determined. But she is so bright. (Don't all parents say that?) She is so similar to Megan. Megan was Star Student last May in 2nd grade. Caroline is doing really well too. Abby struggles a bit but mostly because she only works when she feels like it. Her teacher is doing a great job in motivating her and Megan has been helping her with her homework in the evening. She is such a bubbly kid. And so cuddly!!

Lisa is still working at Papa Murphy's. She enjoys the job and I think it is good for her. Did you know that you can cook PM pizzas on the grill? Just cook it on a low setting or it will burn!!

I got an email the other day from Barbara Lyons, who is the head of MOST (Mothers of Supertwins). Someone sent her a link to the blog and she popped in and read it. She asked if I would be interested in sharing our story for readers of Supertwins magazine. I sometimes forget that ours is a rather unusual one. I told Lisa the other day that I have become so accustomed to big things happening. I don't react like I think most people react. But I have been through so much with the girls that sweating the small stuff is really pointless. I keep thinking that our life would make an excellent reality show. The Anti-Jon & Kate Plus 8 show.

A BIG GIANT THANK YOU!!!!!!!

Thanks to Ali for transporting Megan around last week when my van wasn't working. Lisa's car only holds 3 car seats so Ali provided transportation for Megan back and forth to school. You are a life saver Ali!!!!

Also a big thank you to Springdale Automotive on Westport Rd. and Goose Creek. I didn't have the up front money to pay for the van. They very kindly made the repairs and allowed me to post-date some checks. Thank goodness Kurt, the owner, was kind enough to help.

Prayers needed

One prayer request needs many prayers. One is not so pressing.

A wonderful friend of mine was expecting twins. Totally spontaneous. She used to come over and volunteer when the triplets were born and she feels more like family. She gave birth to her boys, Elijah Cole and Hunter William on late Sunday night a week ago. She was only 20 weeks along. She and her husband were able to hold the boys, take pictures, and try to make that very brief time with them last a lifetime in memories. The funeral was private. She is holding up amazingly well. PLEASE pray for her and her husband during this most horrible of times. Sometimes things seem so unfair. I can't hardly bear the thought that they have to go through this. Hopefully with time, they will be able to try again to have more children.


On a MUCH smaller note of request.: I interviewed for a job yesterday morning at a child development center with 120 kids and 20 staff members. It was for a lead teaching position in the 4 year old classroom. An hour after I left they called to set up an appointment for this morning. I assumed I had the job and was coming in to find that out this morning. I was actually asked if I would be more interested in the DIRECTOR'S position!!!!! I have 2 more interviews to go through before I find out definitely but I can hardly believe it!!!!!!! Pray that I get this one. The lead teaching position was more money and with benefits than current but the director's position would be MUCH more money and many more benefits. Please! Please! Please!

Updates

So I'm still without my computer. This really sucks. My friend Katy is letting me use her computer today. Thanks Katy!!!!

The girls are doing great in school. It has been so much fun sitting around the table at night helping everyone with their homework. Brigid was so excited on her first night of homework that it took her almost an hour to complete it. She just kept saying, "I can't believe I am doing my homework. I'm really doing homework!!!" Too cute. Abby cried the first night of homework and said she never wanted to do homework again. :( Caroline has just rocked doing her homework. She is so cute! Megan is too busy helping everyone else with her homework to get her own done. She is always the helper!!

I'm still job hunting for something better with benefits. Keep those prayers coming!!

Lisa is hanging in there too.

We are now looking for a cheap place to get new carpet/floor. Ours got ruined because a pipe ruptured in the basement. I can't wait to get that room finally done and usuable again. All the stuff that belongs in the family room is in the garage so that we can get the floor replaced. Now I can't park the cars in the garage.

I will eventually post a picture here of my new hair. I decided I wanted to go back to blonde. Dumb idea. Lisa and I are NOT professionals. Let's just say after many attempts, I now have yellow, white, blonde, pink, brown, and red hair. All at the same time. My wonderful friend, Ali, reminded me that this stuff happens to everyone. Usually in high school or college. Not at age 40. Chalk it up to another midlife crisis moment. Goes right up there with running into a former first grade student at Taco Bell. She is now 20 and in college. Makes me feel really old. But really cool that she is in college. I hope I got her started in the right direction!!

I'm off. More errands to run!!

My girls are in the national news!!!

I still don't have the internet so I am using a neighbor's computer. The girls were interviewed by local news yesterday because it was their first day of kindergarten. There are two other sets of triplets at the school as well. You can see them at WHAS11.com. They were also on Good Morning America this morning: http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=5571048 They also made it on the AP news wire which is ap.org. You just type in triplets at school in Kentucky and it willl bring up the video as well. The girls are making in newspapers across the country as well. How cool!!!!!

Lightening strikes

Yes it does. And it did. My house. Fried my computer, phones and TVs. I'm using my brother's computer right now. So don't expect too many updates. I just had a job interview for a 2nd grade here in town at a Catholic school. Keep your fingers crossed! This sounds like a good opportunity. It's even on the way to the girls' school.

The girls are on their way to the dentist today. They are not too excited but they do love spending time at the Uncle's house. They got to swim and use the hot tub here. Too cute.

School starts on August 12 so we are frantically trying to get all the school supplies together. I showed my sister the list and her reply was"That's not so bad." Then I reminded her that the Kindergarten list has to be times 3. That it got overwhelming. lol

My foot is still in an air cast. At least I don't need the crutches so much anymore.

Megan went to a friend's b-day party on Sunday afternoon and the trio went to a triplet party at the same time. It figures. But they all had a great time.


Time to head out! Call me to visit as I have no internet service. I think that will kill me!!!

The book we are in has been published!

A few years ago a writer from the Washington Post got in touch with me through our local twins club. She was writing a book about ART procedures. ART stands for Assisted Reproductive Technology. Basically any procedure used to help fertility. She wanted to write about how ART is changing our world. She interviewed me several times about how all four girls came to be in this family. The book has been published and we are in it! She does use our names which I told her was ok. She did a marvelous job at keeping our story true. It's funny that she titled my section, "We're all on Zoloft." I mentioned this to her when I was talking about other triplet Moms that I know. The main part of our story is that we were not prepared for triplets. We were not expecting triplets. The fertility dr. did not discuss multiples with us AT ALL. It wasn't until I had been given two valium right before the embryo transfer that they wanted us to decide what to do with all 4 embryos. My ex only wanted to transfer 2. I wanted 4. The dr. convinced us that 4 would be a good choice. After we agreed he handed us a piece of paper that asked us to sign that we agreed to 4 embryos and the paper listed some of the really terrible things that could happen if higher order multiples were conceived. This was the ONLY info we received. I've always been a big believer that fertility clinics have a responsiblility to provide indepth information to couples before they even start the fertility process. While I love my trio with all my heart and can't imagine what life would be like without them, it has been a huge strain. Having triplets was a direct issue in the dissolving of my marriage. Finances have been a disaster. There is constant worry. I just received the girls' school supply list. 4 sets of school supplies this year. Yikes. And no I won't get any help from the girls' dad so don't even suggest it.

I have 2 copies of the book if anyone here in town wants to borrow a copy. The name of the book is: Everything Conceivable How Assisted Reproductive Technology is Changing Our World. The author is Liza Mundy.

Amazon.com has copies of the book with several reviews. The first review is from another Washington Post writer who says there are 2 stories that stick out in her mind. One of them is the story of Megan. I don't look at this negatively mainly because it is my life that I live. Others may read it and think otherwise. But I live this everyday and for me to think everything is awful would me that I am not greatful for my life. And that is not true. I love my life but more importantly I love my children. I have been so blessed that I would not take one single second away to live it again.

Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/Everything-Conceivable-Assisted-Reproduction-Changing/dp/1400095379/ref=cm_taf_title_featured?ie=UTF8&tag=tellafriend-20

In the words of Fergie (Black Eyed Peas)-Check, Check, Check, Check it out!

Speed Art Museum

Caroline during her creative moments.

The girls finished their reading logs for the library. So I took them a few weeks ago to get their prizes. They got a lot of coupons to use at different museums and sporting events around Louisville. Last Tuesday (with a broken ankle no less) I took the girls to the Speed Art Museum. We walked around the museum looking at lots of different things. Megan enjoyed all the nude art. Being an almost 3rd grader gave her lots of reasons to giggle uncontrollably at any nude figure. Gee whiz. All four really liked the ancient art B.C. That's my favorite too. I was an art history major for about a year at U of L before I decided to switch to teaching. That was the area I was going to go into. So I gave the girls lots of background info about the ancient art. After we finished that we went to the basement to Art Sparks. This is an interactive playroom. The girls loved it!! They spent so much time in the creative art room.

Brigid and Abigail are at their creative best.

This is Megan working on her art piece. Abby is behind her and Caroline is painting her work. This is Megan with her finished piece.

Abby doing her America's Next Top Model pose. They had a 16th century Dutch ship and kitchen to play in at Art Sparks too. Abby, Brigie, and Megan.

Caroline inside the Native American dramatic play area. I like this one.

Brigid in the preschool room. Brigid loves working with her hands.