So, there is a lot to catch up on since the last time I posted any real update to my journey. I think I left off while pregnant with my 4th child and gearing up for that new adventure. I don't know how it happened, but my "baby" is now 4 years old! This motherhood thing may be stressful/crazy/fun/rewarding, but boy does it go fast! Let me begin by introducing you to my children;
My oldest (by 1 minute) is Lauren. She is a sweet, caring, kind, smart, fun little girl who can usually be found with her cute nose in a book or doing a science experiment. She is in the 5th grade and gets excellent report cards, although this past year has been a little more difficult since they have started using letter grades (A, B, C....). She definitely got her mama's anxiety. 😞 I like to compare Lauren to one of my favorite book characters, Anne Shirley, from Anne of Green Gables; very smart, likes to use grown up words, kind and sociable, but has a bit of a temper. She likes to keep busy in her spare time with her new favorite sport, volleyball, and performing in her school's annual spring musicals. This year they are performing Alice in Wonderland and she has earned the part of the Duchess! She is so excited! Lauren is one of my triplet preemies, and has really overcome the most medically speaking. When she was a week old she suffered a "brain bleed", which essentially is a stroke. It actually cleared up fairly quickly, but she was left with some effects from it. Most noticeably was that she kept her right arm tucked up close to her body at all times and really didn't want to use it at all, and also when she was learning to sit up she had very minimal strength in her core for support. She was referred to physical and occupational therapy, and let me tell you, she did great! We were told that she may never walk; she was walking within a few months of starting therapy. We were told that she may never be able to use her right arm; she graduated occupational therapy within 2 years and I'm the only one who can tell that there is a slight bend to her arm. We weren't sure if there would be any learning difficulties; and like I said above, she gets very good grades and loves to read. Needless to say, I am very proud of my girl.
Next up we have Noah. He is also very kind and loving, although nowadays he doesn't really like to show that side of himself publicly...darn puberty. He is also, obviously, in the 5th grade, and like his sister gets very good grades. School is not his favorite thing, like a lot of boys his age, so sometimes we struggle with getting him to work on his homework or put in some reading time, but he absorbs what he learns easily and really does do good. Noah is a huge fan of Star Wars, I think he has watched each of the movies at least 5 time each! His room is full of Star Wars Lego sets, action figures, clothes...it has essentially taken over! In addition to Star Wars, Noah is also passionate about baseball. He started playing T-ball at age 4, and has played every summer since. Well, except for one season when he broke his elbow falling off the monkey bars at school! Last year we tried a travel ball team for the first time, and he had so much fun! This year we are trying a new league, and are really looking forward to getting back out on the ball field....only a few more weeks to go! Noah is also trying his hand at his school's spring musical this year, but instead of performing on stage, he has opted to be part of the stage crew. It's a lot of responsibility, but he can definitely handle it. He was born second, baby B, and for being born at 29 weeks gestation, really didn't have many complications that can sometimes be expected with preemies. He did suffer from a necrotizing enterocolitis, which is where the colon develops a bleed. Many times these babies have to undergo surgery to try and repair the damage, but Noah was so lucky to have some of the best nurses in the world taking care of him. They noticed the tiniest trace of blood in his diaper and immediately started treating his infection with antibiotics. It was a long 10 days, but he got better, and had no other complications!
Lastly, we have the baby, Jackson. But don't call him that; he has been a self proclaimed "big boy" for 3-1/2 years now! His brother and sister are 6 years older than him, so he has been on the fast track to big kid stuff since the get go. I think his biggest goal is to especially be like his best friend, his big brother Noah! Jax is in his first year of preschool this year, and is really doing great! He was quite a shy little guy at first, but he has come out of his shell, and has made some wonderful friends. I am so glad that he gets to go to the same school next year and still be with the same group of kiddos. So Jackson...Jackson, Jackson, Jackson. I have heard other parents say, "If he had been my first, he would have been my last!", well, I can completely relate to that. Don't get me wrong, he is a very sweet, caring, cuddly little boy who still loves to snuggle on mama's lap, but boy oh boy is he strong willed! We can definitely butt heads, actually it happens almost every day over one small thing or another, but while I am trying to instill respect for adults and rules in him, I am also trying to let him hang on to some of the stubbornness as I believe it will serve him well as an adult. He is very passionate about whatever toy or object he has picked for the day. Once he has chosen it, that object does not leave his hands for practically the whole day...sometimes longer; I have a stuffed animal set of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer characters that I set out at Christmastime, but he has claimed them as his own and they have accompanied him to bed for the past 4 months now! He has a great imagination, and it's really fun to see him make up stories and games with his siblings or cousins. This will be Jax's first year of playing T-ball...following in big brother's footsteps, and he is so excited to begin!
That about does it for now. I can't wait to share more stories about my kiddos, our new puppy, my fiance, and our crazy, hectic life!
