“How do you prepare for triplets?” That’s a question I’ve been asked many times in the past month since we got the amazing news of our referral. When I tell people – their jaws almost always drop wide open and they usually say “Oh My God. Congratulations! But, triplets – wow that’s going to be a lot of work.”
Yes, there’s no denying that fact. But I like to think of a comment that came from a friend of mine who I met at that documentary workshop in Texas (Here’s the link to my short documentary).
He’s an editor and a child psychologist. He looked at me and Ken over dinner and said, “You guys are going to be great parents – and one of the best things about having triplets is – it’s an instant play date! They will always have you and they will always each other. You will be fine. Trust me.”
I do trust him. But, seriously… how do you prepare for three little human beings who will be 12 months old and running around by the time we bring them home!!!???
In our case… we’ve been talking to a lot of experienced moms and dads, I joined a triplet mom group online (which is very informative) – and we’ve been doing a lot of research.
I’ve also been indulging myself by picking out things for their room. Cribs, and birch tree decals for the walls of the bedroom, a funky rocking chair and some handmade stuffed owl pillows from Etsy. (I love Etsy!) I haven’t bought anything yet. I am waiting until we travel for court and come home to get their room done.
(We've also been having some lengthy discussions about names!)
Needless to say, I am incredibly excited (and a little scared) – but I know with patience, help from our support system of family and friends and A LOT of love – things are going work out just fine.... right!?
Got advice for Ken and I as we get ready to become parents of three? Well, we are wide open to any suggestions. Also – for any multiple moms out there – I would love any suggestions for triple strollers (preferably ones you can power walk/jog with!)
Oh. My. Word. Karlie! I am beyond happy for you and incredibly moved to read this. Congratulations. Congratulations. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteKaty - We feel so fortunate esp. after all the ups and downs with the ET program. But from the moment we got the special outreach email from WHFC about the triplets - we were hooked. And then when we got the referral - we knew it was meant to be after all the craziness we had been through. Would love any advice you have about traveling with them on the plane ride home - what you brought. Did you bring a stroller? Car seats for the plane? An endless supply if firmual and diapers? Hope all is well with you. The girls are getting so big! : )
DeleteMultiple do hit the social milestones earlier than other kids. The playdate comment is true. They are so used to always having someone around that they engage earlier than other kids. They also compete which helps them develop their physical skills early too.
ReplyDeleteWow!!!! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteSo very happy for you both!
Jacinda
They may not be walking at l2 mo. A came home at l7 months and just started taking his first few steps a week prior.
ReplyDeleteCongrats again. It is exciting.
On the other hand, our little one came home at 10 months and started walking the week she turned one...way ahead of my bio kids milestones. Congrats on the three...I can't imagine the prep you're going through. It will be crazy, your life will be chaos, you'll be exhausted, but you'll love every minute of it.
ReplyDeleteHi Karlie
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I adopted twins from Ethiopia almost 4 years ago. (Not triplets, but we do get the "adopting multiples thing!") Our little ones were only 3 months old when we brought them home and are now energetic, funny, and very animated 4-year olds.
Our blog is: http://chaneytwins.blogspot.com
And my email is vchaney@telcomplus.net
Congratulations and BEST of luck to you as you continue on your journey!!!
Make contact if you would like...we will be thinking of you all and wishing you the best!
Warmly
Vicki
Vicki - so nice to hear from you. I will definitely check out your blog! We are so excited to bring them home. Hopefully we get a court day very soon! I will definitely email you with questions : )
DeleteYou and your husband are amazing. Those babies are so fortunate to have you. I have 23 month old BBB (2 id and a frat). I have no stroller recs because I never got a triple stroller. I will say that a Step 2 Choo Choo wagon will be a life saver and as far as flying...are you and your husband going alone? If so you will need at least one carseat on the plane and you both can hold the other two. Also a note for flying. You cannot be in the same row as your husband if you are having lap babies. Their is only one extra oxygen mask per row. We flew 4 hours when they were 14 months old and they did great. We did a double umbrella and a single umbrealla that we checked plane side and checked their carseat under the plane. We had my parents with us so they were all lap babies.
ReplyDeletethank you for all the great advice! The choo choo wagon sounds like a great idea - and I am sure there will be one in our future. Question, have you heard of the podee bottle? Another mom of triplets who blogs said it saved her life. Any suggestions... thanks so much - Karlie
DeleteCongratuations! I also have triplets - mine are 2 and I have GBG! I agree you have an instant family and they will always have their best friends with them. Strollers - I strongly recommend the Valco Twin Tri-Mode with Toddler seat. Changed me life! It is pricey but any good triplet strollers are. We also have the choo choo wagon and love it for walks but I don't think it works well for doctors offices or stores - but some mosm do - I just don't think it turns tightly and is very long - but for parks, zoo, walks, it is great. I love that we have both. Other things that I love / loved. Video monitor - priceless. We never did the podee bottles - since they will be older they will probalby be able to hold their own bottles so you can lay them on a boppy pillow and they can hold their own. We did use the bottle slings that fit on the infant carrier a few times. I am also part of the triplet group online which is a great place to ask questions - that is how I found your blog! Good luck on your travels!
ReplyDeleteDawn - I think the triplet mom group is going to save my life! Seriously, it is so nice to connect with moms who have so much experience. I will definitely check out the Valco stroller and you're right about the podee bottles. At 12 months they should be able to wrap their little fingers around the bottle. I am sure I will have lots more questions in the coming months. Thanks for writing! karlie
DeleteCongratulations to you! That is super exciting! As an adoption social worker and mom of two year old triplets, your story touches my heart. I'm your newest blog follower :).
ReplyDeleteAndrea - congrats on your trio and thanks for following my blog :) As you know, the adoption process can be a really trying one, but it's so worth it in the end. Stay tuned for more updates. Fingers crossed we get out court date soon to travel to Ethiopia to meet the babies for the first time!
DeleteI have 12 month (1 year) old triplet boys. They are best friends & this is such a fun age!!! They hold their owwn bottles but now prefer a straw cup (they never took to sippy cups) mine are not walking yet (they were 11 weeks premature) they love to pull up & cruise the furniture. My biggest life saver is having a playroom, a room that is closed off just for them with nothing that they can get hurt on & nothing that is off limits. Of voided they occasionally fall & bang their heads but they are resilliant :o) having tjis room allows me to able to get things done around tje house. I am always within ear shot & usually right there with them but on my cleaning day, I can vacuum & fold laundry without worrying where they are or what they have, or prepare meals & I don't spend my day chasing them all over the place, they do crawl fast!!! My blog is tilyoutriplets.blogspot.com & my email is springaling77@ gmail.com if you have specific questions or just want to chat is be happy to hear from you. I can't imagine having triplets through adoption, at least we had 5 or 6 months to wrap our heads around the idea & prepare. My partner is adopted & I would like to adopt a little girl in the future, but we will see how convincing I am to my parter who thinks 3 is plenty ;) I look forward to following your journey!!!
ReplyDeleteSorry for the typos, I'm on my phone... Plan to read more of your blog when I get to my computer...
ReplyDeleteThat is sooo wonderful! Congratulations!!! I just saw your post on the triplet mom online group. What a wonderful blessing you will be to your sweet babies, and them to y'all. My husband and I have a boy (Bates) and two girls (Brooklyn and Gracie) who are almost 14 month old triplets- right around the ages of your little ones! It is such a blessing to have triplets and love that you are embarking on this exciting journey. I have a Word document where i came up with tons of tips for moms of multiples- I had so many questions about having triplets, so I am glad to help anyone else who has some of the same questions. So, feel free to email me if you would like me to send you that list of tips. God bless y'all! LinseyDriskill@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI am a mom of multiples, I had four kids four and under, and the three bottom ones are VERY close in age due to adoption and artificial twining, so I have often felt like a mom to multiples even though we did it in the nontraditional way. I wanted to just tell you this: the hardest part of the first two years is that there are times when all three are crying. And you only have two arms. And it SUCKS. I have been at it over two years and at least three times a day they are all crying. They are fun, but they also can be so hard! And you will yell when you never ever though you'd yell at these precious souls, because they will conspire together to get into messy messy crap and destroy the 6th library book this month. And it is humbling. No one EVER says how hard it is. They just say "It's so fun!" The "insta playdate" thing is VERY real. I love the fact that my kids always have someone fun to play with, but well, one of our babies ended up having some major medical issues that led to four months in the hospital, and the one from Ethiopia came home as a "perfect healthy" infant and has some serious sensory processing issues and PTSD and has three therapy sessions a week to help him, and he's not even three yet.-- I guess all this rambling is, from someone who has been in the trenches of tiny ones with a background of trauma (as children who've been separated from birth family and been in institutions all are) when you are so tired you actually fall asleep while peeing, people like me will, nod, say "I know" and tell you it's OK to feel like you are going to lose you mind. -- Their room looks amazing, you have some serious talent!
ReplyDeleteWow! I can only imagine the chaos that is about to be unleashed in our house. And yes, we are so ready and excited and up for it, but of course at the same time it's really scary and overwhelming! It's nice to know that we won't be alone in this... and there are moms out there like you who know how hard it is and how rewarding it is as well. So the first time I fall asleep while peeing b/c the triplets have been on a crazy tear... I will think of you and know that I am not crazy. I am just a mom... with three little ones... and I have the right to fall asleep on the toilet! thanks for all the advice. You're blog is great by the way. I look forward to reading it : )
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