A New Beginning

Soo that's it...the last of my posts are moved over to the old blog because the current blog is set to disapear at some point today. In typical Pirate Mom Fashion, I had to move it all & try & keep it for my kids...gonna keep it going too I think. So, forgive the lengthiness in posting, I started at 7ish this morning migrating everything on over, and its only taken until 1pm today to get it transferred. But, these are MY memories, stories of MY life...and my triplets & teen deserve to one day be able to read about themselves. This has enabled me to preserve the little things, the things often forgotten, left out of the usual baby books... So, here it is, our lives in a nutshell.

So, What's It Like Carrying Triplets?

Posted by Vulnadia on Sep 25, 2008 at 12:00 PM What's It Like Carrying Triplet's? Carrying triplets is probably the scariest endeavor I have ever endured. In the beginning, of course you find out that you are pregnant and you haven’t any clue that there is more than one tiny person growing inside. Because of my prior health problems, my doctor decided to do an ultrasound at 9 weeks out. Because of a previous miscarriage, I was worried about the doctor not finding any heart beat. Little did I know, that lab tech would find not one, but THREE tiny heartbeats! What a shocker! No, I didn’t faint or pass out, although it did help that I was already lying down. But then again, that lab tech was too surprised to say anything more than, “ How many baby’s would you like?” All I could say was, “How many baby’s are you seeing?” Of course we now know the answer was “THREE!” So there I was, not expecting one viable heartbeat at all, only to find out that I was supporting THREE very strong little heartbeats! The doctor & the lab tech (after much oh my goodness-ing) printed out many pictures of my tiny trio so that I would have the undeniable proof of existence when breaking the news to my family. After all, who would believe I was carrying triplets? Funnier still, I had to have the office worker write me a letter saying that I was carrying them so that work would believe me! Next, it was on to the specialist’s office for my 12 week introductory visit. They don’t EVEN want to see you before 12 weeks because anything less than that may not be a viable multiple pregnancy. That was frightening. I had gained 4 pounds by this point and was starting to feel my jeans tighten at the waist. The specialist turned out to be very nice, however you get to have this consultation in his office where he gets to tell me that I am much to short to be carrying triplets and that my chances for successfully carrying them are very slim. I looked him in the eye and told him, “We’ll just see about that!” This is the point where selective reduction is implied/offered, which in my case just wasn’t an option. So I left my first big appointment with my specialist armed with a list of stipulations: mandatory full bed rest at 5 months, a list of foods that you should and shouldn’t eat, explicit instruction to find, identify and eliminate all sources of stress from my life, and a term date of 34 weeks. The 34 week goal is the scary part, even though the stress elimination was a close second. I decided to approach this rather like a game. I had a starting point which I had already managed to get past (conception-passed that test with flying colors!) and now I had a set end point to strive for. After having been told that most triplet pregnancy’s never make the 34 week mark, I decided that we would hit it right on target. The doctor just smiled. Little did he know that he would find himself writing my OBGYN a letter stating, “Please deliver these triplets the moment Mimi is officially considered 34 weeks. Not a day before, or a day later.” Much to my doctor’s surprise, after a pregnancy of no complications, I would walk to labor and delivery from the Schumpert parking garage and check myself in for my very planned c-section after the most frightening 34 weeks I have ever sustained!

FX makeup trial by fire

Posted by Vulnadia on Oct 03, 2008 at 10:54 PM Husband & I had a promo Thursday night for our haunted attraction. It was the first time in the history of our theater doing this haunt, for us to get invited to the press promotion that the fair has every year. This meant that, as the icon characters for our haunt, we would need to BOTH get into makeup and costume AT HOME during the late afternoon IN FRONT OF THE BABIES for the very first time. I had NO idea how they would handle this, and even less of an idea how we would manage to fend off three 2 yr olds while we applied makeup to ourselves at our dining room table. It was interesting, to say the least. Kaiden immediately wanted brushes. He loves makeup brushes and finds them great fun to play with! They are even better when he is able to sneak a tiny bit into the makeup itself and color on himself! This peaked Vivie's interest, and she had to have brushes, too. Then of course Kian had to have his share as well. Pretty soon, we were fighting for brushes for us to use to get ready in time for the promo! I don't know if it was because they got to watch us put everything on and saw the entire transition, or if they just really aren't bothered by much at this age, but none of my little people seemed to be bothered by seeing Mum & Daddy in full makeup. We got really lucky, this time! Hopefully, they won't develope a fear of it by next year! Vivienne even gasped and squealed once she saw me with my vines woven into my hair and my dark ages dress and jewelry on! Now if we can just keep Kai out of the black makeup we will be in business! (He still has a little bit of it in his hairline!)

Social Frustrations

Posted by Vulnadia on Dec 08, 2008 at 01:11 PM I don't know exactly how to write this or how to say what it is that is bothering me so, but I have to give it a shot and try and make a difference. Ladies, please be mindful of your actions and your words, ESPECIALLY when there is an unknown element! It has come to light both recently, and in the past, that I have observed people while out and about, who seem oblvious to the damage their actions and words have on others. I'm not talking about a case of road rage, or shopping frustrations, either. I'm talking about socially, I suppose. There are those among us, who, through whatever reasons, good or bad, have become media darlings with their stories plastered all over the newspapers, television and yes, even spread through gossip. What do we really know of these people, I ask you? Most of us only know what we read in the newspapers, magazines, etc. and what we hear on the news and on telelvision or online. The saddest, most tragic part of all, is that we as a society are want to pass judgement on these people based on only what we hear/read have heard and not on fact or truth in such matters. We tend to forget that the front-page cover-person is really a person with a life and a family just like everyone else and somehow find a way to push that person into a realm all their own where they aren't really real to us anymore, making it easier to talk about them, snub them and socially ostracize them, in spite of how we would have treated them had they not been made into media darlings instead of being allowed to live the life of the average joe you meet on the street. What is it about society today that finds it socially acceptable to treat these people like dogs when they see them out and about? Society tends to treat them as if they can't hear what is being said about them, and even will go so far as to say and do things out loud and in front of these folks as if they weren't even there, or worse, drawing attention to them in situations where it isn't warranted. Shouldn't these people have the same rights as everyone else? Shouldn't they be allowed to go grocery shopping in peace without the stares, comments and extra attention afforded them by the judgemental public? What about their families and friends who are out with them? How should they be expected to react when people say and do things like this? Are they due the same treatment? Is anybody? Who gives us the right to assume that what we have read in the media is truth and status quo? Why do we let this influence the way we view someone as a person? If you were out and about, and in an accident and someone helped you, would you be so quick to hurt the very hand that reached out to help you if it were one of these media darlings that you've seen and read about in the paper or on television? It burns me up to see inherently good people having their lives torn apart by society because someone decided to believe what was written/said in the media without even trying to learn what the truth may be. I suppose the bigger question is, is the truth really any of our business? Who is giving us the right to pass judgement and why oh why are we doing so based upon something written to attract a certain demographic or sell higher volumes to make a buck? People make mistakes. In fact, none of us are perfect. Some make bigger mistakes than others, but that doesn't mean that a person shouldn't be allowed to go on with their lives. So, the next time you are out and about, whether it be at the grocery store, or at a football game or even in the carpool line at school, please think twice about what you say and do! Your words and your actions can have a profound effect on the lives of people in ways you least expect.

Exploring the great outdoors

Posted by Vulnadia on Nov 21, 2008 at 07:08 AM this past week, my trio has managed to get out into the backyard of their own volition- frightening yet true... kian has developed a new sport & is positively mastered it- its called wet-leaf surfing!!! the doggie wants her room back!!! i have taken to deadbolting the backdoor shut now to keep them from going OUTSIDE!!!! but they are now in search of KEYS- because keys unlock DOORS that lead to the OUTSIDE!!!! dunno how they know this, but they do!!! i'm in soo much trouble! ~Mimi

What Do SAHM's Actually DO All Day?

Posted by Vulnadia on Feb 21, 2011 at 02:53 PM Oh my, can this woman be serious? I know, I know, this is under the job club header- & it is NOT misposted, either! Why would that be? Because even though I stay at home & have since I went on mandatory bedrest at 5months gestation, I still WORK and work HARD! I work from home, I stay at home with my kids (well now that includes school with my trio since they've turned 4) and I still have 3 jobs to work out of the home with in addition to my "Home" work that is household based (the housework & general mom of the house duties that are 24/7)!!!! In fact, I often yearn for an office to go to where I can work in peace, without worry, with adults...but alas, I chose to stay at home with my triplets...or rather they made it quite impossible & improbable that I would ever work out of an office again for at least a while! But I wouldn't change being at home with them for the world, even though I have my moments! I have 2 real paying work at home jobs that do not involve the selling of ANYTHING...I am very fortunate. I also run a non-profit theater and it's seasonal fundraiser haunted attraction which I write & produce each year myself. This is on top of thrice the school duties Moms of 4yr olds have-three times the snackdays every 17 days, three times the storytime duty, three times the game playing duty, the field trips that I must chaperone (I've one child with sensory disorders that cannot go unattended & I cannot trust another to do the job at this stage-he even got seperated from us at the first one and I was there! long story there) So how oh how can they ask what stay at home moms do all day? I mean, I spent my summer in the bathroom...with all 3 of my potty training kids...it was AWFUL- and there were many a day when I took the laptop in with me so I could write, and work orders for my other job and function while they sat there gleefully learning to be big-kids.... Sure we go to the park, and do other stay at home mom type activities, but I must also find time & ways to keep up with my jobs at the same time!!! Have you ever tried grocery shopping with triplets? It's an experience in society, that's for certain and I'm not talking about the effects of my kids on the store but rather the reactions & things said & done when we are sighted that are the kickers, the time delays, the forgetfullness that comes from the shock of what some people will say & do in front of my kids.... But what do we do all day? WE WORK!!! We don't have an office to escape to full of adult conversations & free of toys to step on & kid programming blaring in the background... What do you think? Do you as a Mom ever wonder what it's like on the other side? Both Moms have their merit, both are doing what is best for their families, but seriously? I work too!!! I just do it from my home!!! article

Disney Magic Moment Ch.1

Posted by Vulnadia on Jul 08, 2011 at 06:35 PM okay,..first magical moment... The first day we didnt think we would get to do much-keep in mind we drove in 16hrs straight which meant the kids had slept in the car-we got in about 730am, checked into our cabin at Ft Wilderness (which was amazingly ready for us) we changed & took the boat on over to magic kingdom... Yes we got our gac-had the stroller as wheelchair tag & quiet place to rest stamps on it (kai has taken to kicking & biting indiscriminately when past the point of no return in a meltdown-we can usually head off before this happens but it was anybody's guess if we would be able to & what would trigger in these situations)...it enabled us to knock out 3/4 of magic kingdom by about 6ish that evening-rides only pretty much...which was mystifying We only got to do pretty much guy stuff-the boys went wild in pirates giftshop & there wasnt too much vivienne didnt have already from there that was for girls...& she was really sad because as she put it, "my hands are empty" as she tried to stay chipper... We ended up @ Phiharmagic, kian had to potty & missed the show with daddy...& we stumbled accross the 2nd level castle entry...with a girly shoppe right there around sir mickey's...husband took the boys to watch the stage show from above at the balcony around back & vivienne & I ducked into the shoppe... She found the cutest disney dolls-toddler versions basically of the princesses & tink-one of them, rapunzel, looked EXACTLY like toddler rapunzel from the movie & has mylar streamers in her hair to make it"Glow"... While in line to pay for our very girly perfectly vivienne purchase (she was giddy) this very foreign fairy godmother came up to her, pulled her a tiny bit off to the side & started whispering very quietly to her smiling the entire time...she sprinkled her with pixie dust & essentially fairy-blessed her that all her wishes & dreams would come true...it made her day literally!!! Fast forward 2 days later, and we were on the boat coming back from the contemporary (another magic story for later) & right as we landed and disembarked, the wishes music started up... Then the first of the fireworks went off above the castle which we could sorta see in the distance from the beach of the resort...vivienne gasped & screamed, "My wishes!!!" & went into this 20 minute long monologue about how some of her wishes in her hair had started the fireworks & how they really worked & how her dreams were coming true...it was very detailed & very sweet & innocent & wonderful (my little moment during her rather large one)... She honestly thinks she is responsible for the entire fireworks show via the pixie dust from her fairy godmother!!! cutest sweetest thing!!! it just made our night (days with kai could become stressful at times for a myriad of reasons) More to come later, this is just a tiny bit of what all happened while we were there!!!