May 2016

The Another fun filled busy month for us! We are getting closer to summer and been able to spend more time outside... I have a feeling this will be a regular thing for us! Active boys need to use up that energy!
So what was the Month of may filled with?

I was asked to baptize a set of triplets. One of the best things that came out of having triplets (besides the triplets themselves of course), was an amazing group of triplet moms. And the group keeps growing! It has been harder these days to get together on a regular basis (go figure), but we have our ways of checking in with one another, reaching out, and talking all things triplets when we need to!
One of the newer moms and I have grown rather close, and it is so fun to now be on the other side of it, offering advice and my experiences to someone who has just started the process!
Anyway, she knew I was a pastor, and asked if I would be the one to baptize her kiddos... what a cool experience that was! So fun,  and so meaningful!

We celebrated Mother's day at my parents house. Always fun to get together with all my sisters, parents, niece and nephew. Never a dull moment when all together!

The Dvorak 5

Mom and her girls!

Cousins!

We wrapped up another semester of our amazing ECFE class. We have loved our teachers, other moms and their multiples, and we are sad to be all done. This experience was so great for the boys in learning about structure, seperation anxiety, and lots of new songs, new ways to grow in fine motor, sensory, and cognitive learning. The moms talked a lot about time management, self care, potty training, and discipline... I encourage all families to experience ECFE with their children!

We discovered a new park in Maple Grove- lots of really cool new equipment, slides, and many many things to climb on. I think once it gets a little warmer there is an ope area with fountain spouts  in the ground (kind of like a splash pad) where we came and play in the water!

Both of our dads (the boys papas) had birthdays this month! We are so incredibly thankful for these two men in our lives!
We got to go have Ice cream with papa Dave on his birthday. We like to call it "going to the airport"- (long story inside joke- but one we have shared with our boys now)
They wore their love their papa shirts- and they love to shout it "LOVE YOUR PAPA" When they wear them.

Papa's birthday with ice cream 

Nana love!

Over Memorial weekend, Dave and I got to attend his cousin's wedding in St. Cloud. It is always so fun to gather with Dave's family, a fun bunch! Lots of food, dancing, and a night away kid free!
The boys were in good hands with our nanny for the night!

The next day, we met our nanny and the boys in Monticello so we could head out to my sister and brother in law's cabin in Annendale, MN.
This is when we celebrated my dad's birthday with the family.
All of us went on a pontoon ride (My mom stayed back with my nephew Tyler who was napping)
But the rest of us went. The sun was shining, and there was a lot of lake traffic- lots of people to wave to, waves to rock the boat... everyone had a blast! I was a bit nervous with the boys being so active and curious! But they did well... despite my anxiety

Since they are potty-trained now, they got to experience peeing off the side of the boat! This was probably a highlight of their day.

The rest of the day, when playing outside, we gave them permission to pee outside when they had to go... so it was on trees- off the dock, off the deck... oh they loved it. (we regret the freedom a little bit, because now this is what they want to do whenever we are outside... anywhere.... we had to explain a few times to them about when this is and is not ok)

Anyway- after we got back from the pontoon ride, the guys stayed back with all the kids and grilled, while my sisters and I took my mom out on the boat for a girls ride! THIS ride was amazing... so relaxing, no anxiety with worrying about kiddos.... just us girls... with snacks and drinks, so fun!

We had a great meal together, opened presents, and then headed home. We thought with all the sun and no naps that we would have sleeping boys the whole car ride home- we were wrong... we had to stop and use the potty- twice, Graham cried the entire way home because he was so dang tired, Nolan whined, and Henry was in and out of whining and crying... it was a rough ride home, but after bath time and snuggles they passed out fast in their beds- and we did too!

Monday we had another play date with the girl triplets at the park with a picnic! It was hot, but worth it to see our dear friends!

So hard to believe in just a few short days we will have 3- three year olds! WOW!

April 2016

A busy Month it has been for our family!

First we got to celebrate my best friend Katie's little boy Liam's 1st birthday! It was fiesta themed. The boys got to eat lots of tacos, help bust open a pinata, and then decorate cookies before we left.
There were lots of people and a ton of kids! The boys loved all the stimulation, and it was good to see people and catch up.

Later this month, our boys came down with some yucky germs.
We were in urgent care with Graham for an Ear infection on Sunday. The very next day,  I took them all in for strep tests, but they were negative.
Monday night, we heard a very weird barking sound. I thought it was coming from outside, but we discovered one of the boys had come down with croup. I had to sit in their room and wait to hear it happen again so I knew who it was coming from... lol
We discovered it was Henry. At 11pm we were off to Childrens. They were so accomodating, per usual. It was a busy night there, so we had to wait 3 + hours to be seen by the doctor.

Henry wanted to watch frozen, so of course they granted his wish. About half way through the movie he looks up at me to say "mama can I go night night now?" AWWWW
So he turned over on his tummy and went to sleep, poor guy.
The doctor came in to confirm croup... he took an oral antibiotic and we were on our way by 3:30am.

By Thursday of that week, we were all back in the pediatrician's office for a few more symptoms.
when we left there:
Graham still had his ear infection so they had to give him a stronger med
Henry now had an ear infection so he went on a new med (but his croup had become a lot better)
Nolan tested positive for Influenza A and B and was starting to sound croupy.

Everyone one went on a different antibiotic, and everyone went on Tamaflu just to be safe!!
It was hectic and I was overwhelmed... but you do what you have to for your kids to feel better, right?
I remember too, that I took the sick kiddos in the car later that day to get their meds... They filled all the antibiotics at one CVS location, but they were out of Tamaflu, so we had to head to second CVS to get it.
I cried the whole way to the second location feeling tired and overwhelmed. When I got their, I got asked by three different people in the window if I could just come in and get it all sorted out (3 prescriptions for Tamaflu was hard for CVS and insurance to understand). I reminded them I have 3 sick toddlers with me, so coming in was not an option.
After 40 minutes waiting, We had our meds and went home.

I had my annual moms of multiples workshop that weekend, and I was hesitant to go due to all the sick kiddos... but Dave and my mom friends assured me that I was so proactive before leaving, all they needed was rest time at home, and their meds.... and because of the week I had with them, I needed this weekend.
So I headed up to Fargo with our Northside MoM's club for the Wild Wild West themed workshop. I faced-timed a lot, and Dave filled me in to assure me all was going well at home.
This workshop is always a blast... lots of socializing with other moms with multiples, great speakers, informative breakout sessions, vendors, and R&R.

April is my birthday month, yes month... I spend lots of time getting together with different friend groups for birthday lunches, dinners, and coffee... I personally like the small group aspect instead of a big party so I can be more intentional with my time in these special relationships.

One of my favorite birthday traditions is Benihana with 2 other dear friends with April birthdays and all our hubby's! 

Dave took my out to happy hour with surprise guests of my sister Taylor and her BF Waylon, then we headed to our favorite restaurant, 112 Eatery for an amazing dinner!

The boys got me cards, flowers, and sweet gifts- it is so fun to have them understand birthdays now!

We had another triplet play date with our favorite little girl triplets, Emma, Harper, and Zoey. Their mom Michelle and I have grown so close with raising our triplets. The kids are starting to finally play together instead of just along side one another.... such fun friendships in the making! Love it!

Some more cute pictures from this month:

Potty training triplet tales....

So I wanted to make sure to document this milestone, because I want to be able to remember it for a lifetime.
 I apologize in advance not only for length, but also for all the "poop" and "pee" language in this post, but when one goes through this milestone, it takes over your life..... so read on if you can handle it.... I promise not to be too graphic!

It has been quite the experience (as one would assume correctly with triplets). We have been very surprised on many levels on how we thought it would go.

We had introduced the potty's to the boys a few months ago, but it was brief and subtle. We had some success with it whenever we did bring it out, but I think I was the one more not ready to take on this endeavor.
I didn't want to push this, and really wanted to make sure I saw multiple signs that they were "ready". Nolan was showing signs first, by hiding to go poop, and then eventually telling us that he wanted to be changed. This started in mid February.
Henry was next to start doing the same, hiding, and then telling us he wanted to be changed. All good signs.
Graham on the other hand, he could care less what was in his diaper, and didn't like the interruption to be changed.
This got me to say- Nolan will be potty trained first, then Henry, then Graham, if we were lucky.

I did some research (asking other moms about their experiences), to see what were successful methods. I was hesitant to do all three at one time, but I didnt want to rule it out either.

Underwear was purchased, the boys would try it on, but for very short periods of time.
We talked with our nanny and she said when she got back from her trip to Hawaii in mid April she was on board to go forward with it head on!
She wasn't kidding.
I had not fully come up with my triplet potty training method yet (in denial that I was ready to do this full force).
On April 18th around noon I got a text from our nanny Sarah saying that the boys had been in underwear all morning, and only 1 had an accident.
What!!! I was shocked... I didnt know this was happening. I didnt know if I should be scared, proud, or what!
She kept me updated the rest of the day till I got home- lots of outside play with underwear, and no pants.... a couple accidents here and there, but all in all pretty good!

The next few days were a little rough, but going ok.... we came to realize Nolan wanted NOTHING to do with this potty thing (although he didnt like the feeling when he had wet underwear.) Henry too didnt like the feeling and would tell us after the fact. Graham (who I thought would resist most) had stayed dry, and would sit on the potty whenever prompted, and 9/10 times would go!

I had all weekend to be home with them, so we decided to go 100% with Graham first, and once he was complete, start on the next. Well with chocolate chips and sticker charts, Graham was a rock star. Whenever he would sit and go he would exclaim "Im peeing! Im peeing!"
 Looking back it totally makes sense that he would take to it so quick because Graham is a rule follower. For him everything is pretty much black and white. So since this was the new way of doing things, he took to it immediately.
In the past 10 days, Graham has only had 1 accident. He doesn't really even need to be prompted anymore.... he will just tell you or he will just go on his own! This goes for pee and poop, and not just at home, but out and about! I couldn't be more proud of him!

Since he filled his sticker chart, he gets to go get ice cream with mom now!

Over the same weekend, Nolan saw all the positive attention Graham was getting, and he did not like it one bit. He was trying to be more clingy with me, glare at Graham every time he went potty, whine a lot more, and tried to find any way to get our attention off of Graham and on to him. On Monday April 25th, something must have clicked for him... he demanded to wear underwear, and started going in the potty- with no accidents all day.

Now it needs to be noted that Nolan is a smart cookie. He realized he got a chocolate chip every time he went potty.... he caught on so he would go pee a little bit, stand up, get his treat, then head back to the potty to pee a little more.... this went on for a good 25 minutes..... I wanted to get mad or frustrated with him for abusing the system... but he was going in the potty every time. Well played son, well played. (my mom informed me I did the exact same thing when I was potty training. It is scary how similar Nolan and I really are!)
Nolan doesn't like to go potty other places, but he will.
Another funny story about Nolan (which I am sure he will hate me for sharing when he is older) is the first time he went poop on the big potty. Nolan has always had constipation issues, so we knew this could be a challenge when it came to potty training. He sat on the big potty one night, out of the blue, and pooped. We couldn't believe it! when we went to flush it, the water didnt fill up quite as quick or as full.... he had clogged it. His first time on the big potty. We had to have a family friend come over with his commercial auger to get it working again.
Ever since then, we have had to flush with caution. This same issue has happened a few more times, but 1. we have our own auger now 2. it has not stopped him from pooping like a big boy in the potty 3. allowed us to have an even bigger sense of humor when it comes to poop.  Oh sweet Nolan!

Henry, like in every other milestone, has been the third and final... (even though he is first born) I have determined he takes his time and allows us to understand and appreciate the process- realizing there is no rush. He of course is a follower and wants to be just like his brothers in every way.... which has been very successful in this case. I think he understands the potty, but his timing to get their in time is a bit off. He has had his success in peeing and pooping in the potty, so I think we are close with him, but again, I am not rushing it just because his brothers are there.

this experience has helped me to see the individuality in our boys... the ways in which they learn and take in information, how they respond to rewards, and their personality traits as they grasp it all.

Our nanny is amazing, and I am so thankful she "threw" us into this process by putting them all in underwear.
We haven't tried night time training yet (I feel that is an entity of its own- and is usually the last thing boys grasp when it comes to potty training)... so for now we will celebrate the day time potty training successes!

A lot of changes with this milestone:
more laundry, less diapers, the heightened awareness of every bathroom where ever you are, seeing their cute tiny butts now (no diaper bulge), taking more time to get out the door because we have to go potty before we leave, more clothes to pack in the diaper bag (in case of accidents),  my patience levels, their levels of communication, trusting them more, realizing that they are no longer babies- but little boys, more independent then before.

It brings tears to my eyes typing out these experiences from the past few weeks- this has been one of the most tiring, frustrating, surprising, yet most rewarding experiences I have had as a parent. I know we are not 100% there, but we are farther than I ever thought we would be in this last week alone.
Our boys are amazing, and even though their actions keep reminding me of that... I know I need to keep reminding them of that too!

Funny things the boys are saying

I had to make a list of some of the funny things the boys are saying so I never forget them!

Graham -" hey what's going on in here guys" 

Nolan always says "yessssss"  never yea

Nolan- "I think that's a great idea!"

Nolan- " how 'bouuuut....." When he wants to suggest things to do. 

Henry- "my name is Henry" 

Henry will respond with any question you ask him with a "ummmmmmm" like he really has to think about his answer

At red lights "Wait for it....wait for it"- and then "GREEN MEANS GO!"

When we drive by a McDonalds they say "There is old McDonald's"

They also can point out any target from the car window! 

Graham responds with "Mmmmm no thanks" 

These have to be documented as they are so funny and I never want to forget them.


All three will say "wanna nuggle on the couch?"

 Nolan- "You want some? Can I Have some?" 

They all call each other  buddy.... Ok buddy, good job buddy, I'm in here buddy....

"Hello brudders....." to each other

And Nolan will introduce everyone to people..... "I'm Nolan, this is Graham, that's Henry, and that's my momma Mollie...."

All three "I'm ok" when they fall down...

When any of them see a baby- "That baby is so cute and beautiful" 

Graham responds with "noooooo I can't"- when he doesnt want to do something, almost in a British accent too! 

All three will wake up and declare "It's a Sarah/mommy/daddy day!"

or they will wake up growling like tigers!

If it has been rainy- they will wake up singing "rain rain go away, come again another day"

"Bayooons" -balloons

All three in cute whiney voices- "Can I? Can I please?" when they want something.

Nolan will negotiate with you when you try and suggest a nap.... He will pipe in and say "Or...... We could watch a movie on the couch"

All three - "it's Dee-ish-ious" " it's gooood" "I yike it mama" when eating something they love

Galloping graham- it is his preferred fast method of movement. 

Easter weekend 2016

 Easter this year was celebrated in similar fashion to years past.

Because of my job as a Pastor, Easter weekend gets a little busy for me with all the services of Holy Week, so we do our best to get family celebration time when we can.

So....Because of my early Easter Sunday morning at church, we had our family Easter morning on Saturday. (We did this growing up at our house because of our church choir involvement on Easter Sunday)
I made the boys Easter baskets on Friday night, so when they woke up the next morning they could see that the Easter bunny had come! (This is such a fun age right now, because they are finally understanding what is going on)

They loved their new jammies, cars, sunglasses.... And got to try Peeps for the first time! A huge hit I think!

Once we got that tornado all cleaned up, we thought we would dye Easter eggs: it went better than expected, and the boys loved picking their colors and watching them change- and "stirring" was their favorite!

Later that day, my family celebrated Easter/my birthday. I had a service at 5:00 that night so Dave took the boys early, and I met them after church was over.

We had the standard menu of lamb, ham, creamed cabbage, gazed carrots, salad, rolls, etc for dinner.

After the Easter egg hunt, we made sure to open birthday presents before we sat down to eat... it goes pretty fast now with little kiddos helping you unwrap.

We took some fun pictures to document the evening before we headed home to get a good nights sleep for the Sunday festivities.

Singing happy birthday to mommy! 

Funny bunny hats a family friend wanted us to take a picture in for her! 

Family picture take 1 

Nana and papa Peterson with all their grand kids! 

On Sunday I was at church at 5:45 am for our 3 services we had that morning.

Dave, the boys, and Dave's parents came to worship at the 9:00 service.  They rushed out after to get to Auntie Connie and Uncle Donny's for Easter festivities, and I joined them after I was all done with church duties!

Auntie Connie filled 90 plastic eggs and hid them in the backyard for just our little boys.. (no other kiddos on that side yet). The boys loved finding them (now that they had practice from the night before) and then came in to open them- finding pennies, and candy galore!

Family picture take 2

Nana and papa  Dvorak with all their grand kids! 

Cute Easter outfits!! 

A funny Easter craft Aunt Connie made! 

The food was so good; lots of egg bakes, caramel rolls, deviled eggs, salads, and more!

I was pretty exhausted by mid afternoon- with all the people, church services, and food all week, I didn't have much energy left!

We had a quiet evening at home to wrap up the weekend!