Daddy, I Wanna hold YOUR hand. January 28, 2008

Bigweld and The Pilot

Let It Snow! January 27, 2008

The snow was lovely at our house, but it wasn’t quite enough. So, we took a short drive (about 10 minutes) and found about 2 feet of snow! It was absolutely beautiful. My blood pressure came down, and I was able to simply enjoy the time with my kids AND The Pilot. I am amazed by how busy I allow myself to get. I sometimes forget how to “just be”. Walking through the snow, laughing, falling down, and throwing snowballs was fun… fun for all of us.

I’m A Soccer Mom… January 25, 2008

Without The Soccer Playing Kids or The Minivan.

I don’t know how it happened, but suddenly I am VERY busy driving my brood around. We have swim lessons twice per week, one art class, one piano lesson, and school.

I can only hope that when the boys are older, they are on the same sports teams. How do moms (and dads) keep such a busy schedule along with other household responsibilities? How do they do it in a busy city? I only drive a few miles per week.

The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From the Trees January 21, 2008

I like to refer to myself as “conservative with my funds”. Others have called me “cheap”. I also like good coffee. So when the coffee is offered for free I am willing to bundle my brood up and walk down to a local coffee house. It is faster for me to walk with the boys than it is to load them up, drive a few blocks, look for a parking space, parallel park, and unload them. Granted that morning, we might have been better off driving and missing “free coffee hour”.

The coffee was less than desirable. In fact, it was awful. I ordered two vanilla steamers and a vanilla latte. I got two hot chocolates and a latte. I know they were free, but I complained anyway.

We were sitting there drinking our “coffees”, discussing what would happen if the floor broke, when Herbie declared that he had to go to the bathroom. Grandma took him down to the toilet and when they returned this is what was said/thought:

Me: Wow, that was fast.

Grandma: He didn’t go. He wants to go home.

My thought bubble: He is so much like his father.

Me: Herbie, why couldn’t you go here?

Herbie: The germs might get me.

My thought bubble: He is so much like his mother.

Wanna Dance? January 16, 2008

About the time I think I have things under control, I am proven very wrong in very short order. We left the house with all three kids. They were bathed (with soap and water), dressed (very cute, I might add), and fed (a warm breakfast). I had on lipstick AND clean socks that matched each other. We were running on-time; in fact, we had time to stop for coffee. I was feeling really good.

We got halfway through the day and I noticed that one of the boys had two left feet. He was wearing his left footed “papa shoe” and his brother’s left footed “papa shoe” (little leather tie-up shoes my father bought). Poor kid. And the worst part of the whole thing is: he doesn’t put his own shoes on yet.

What is that saying about pride coming before your kids’ fall?

Womb Mates January 15, 2008

I am still amazed by the questions others ask us and the ones I ask other MOMs (Mothers Of Multiples).

What I’ve learned:

The incidence of twinning, among the general population is 3 in 100. (I’ve never won anything in my life. Even still, after three yrs of keeping a set of twins alive, I can’t imagine that I could be among the 3)

The incidence of twinning goes up to 1 in 9 if the mama is over 45 (I am not); if she live in Massachusetts or Connecticut (I do not, nor have I ever visited); if she takes fertility drugs (I did not); if she or her mom or her grandmother is a fraternal twin (my mama has a twin brother); if she already has a set of multiples (I have a singleton daughter who was 3 when the boys were born); if she is Nigerian (I am not); or if she is overweight and tall (When I got pregnant with the boys I was 112 pounds and 5 foot 3 inches…and now… I’m still 5 foot 3 inches…)

The incidence of twinning goes down if the mama lives in Hawaii.

Identical twins have the same DNA but different fingerprints (I should have them booked so I can examine their prints).

Twins are not always born by a C-section (mine were not).

20% of identical twin siblings write with a different hand (mine both seem to be right handed).

What they don’t tell you is that all of that information only applies to fraternal twins. The rate (1 in 285) for identical twins is random and universal. It is the same in all populations and has remained constant over time (I still can’t believe I’m that ONE). (source about.com)

Being a MOM is the most difficult thing I have every done. Having said that, I don’t believe my boys are “random”. I know they are a gift from God…I just don’t know what the full gift is yet.

At Least My Pipes Won’t Freeze January 10, 2008

The Pilot came home tonight after a 4 day trip that took 5 days to complete. That’s aviation talk for “we don’t live at our domicile and The Pilot must commute to work the day before he actually has to work”.

I digress.

Another way to know you’re married to an Airline Pilot: He comes home with glycol (de-icing fluid) on his pant leg. I thought it was spilled coffee, spit from a passenger, or mud. I am so thankful for the laundry challenges that keep me sharp!

I Explained… January 5, 2008

Dear Violet’s Teacher (woman I have been trying to get to know and make friends with…to no avail),

To my chagrin, I just realized that I might have given you a box of mostly eaten cookies. My embarrassment is only tempered by the fact that I found a completely full box of cookies in my cupboard. Violet (who has no idea what I’ve done) will have an unopened treat for you on Monday.

Hope you enjoyed your vacation (and didn’t think too much about how tacky I am and how you will get revenge on me through Violet),

Sincerely,

That Mom

This is the email I sent to Violet’s teacher last night when it became clear that I couldn’t muster the nerve to call her (read this). I truly hope she is forgetful and has a great personality. I really hope she doesn’t have a blog…

Happy New Year, Or Bust January 5, 2008

I have been thinking about the last year and wanting to write a thought provoking and encouraging “family-update letter’. Unfortunately, that isn’t going to happen. I keep saying that I am optimistic about 2008, but really, I am fearful that it will be a continuation of the road we’ve been on for 3 years. I am searching the map for a T in the road so we are forced off of this road. This has been a road of pain, loss, questioning, searching, faith, dirty laundry, and many tears. I am afraid to say that I can’t take anymore, because I have proven that I can. I am afraid to declare today a fresh start.

Having said all of that, I am determined not to live in fear. I am determined to actually experience life. And, most importantly, I am determined to teach show my children how to put one foot in front of the other…repetitively. Hopefully, they will learn how to walk through the laundry room of life earlier than I.

One more thing, my sweet children, hopefully you will learn at a young age that life is not fair nor are we immune from what seems like hell on earth. You are, however, promised eternal life.