What a year it has been! It has been full of many ups and many downs but looking back at the entire year, I must say, we've done well over all. We are all happy, healthy, and successful in our own rights. It is insane at how time passes. I feel like just yesterday we were celebrating the kids' first birthday and here we are and it's been 6 months. Time always bothers me. I always try to really live in the moment, make each day very special with my kids, and even though they are still very young, create memories and traditions. Time is one of the most important things to Ricky and I. We are both very pleased with him working nights because he can spend more time with us. It is very important to have both of us involved with our family.
Looking back at this year, I can't believe some of the things we weathered. There were some pretty devastating diagnosis and events in 2011. But there is beauty to be found in every situation and I can't help but think about how amazing our children really are. I don't just say that because they are mine and ours. I never understand why we, Ricky and I, are so lucky to have these children in our lives but what I do know is that these children have been through hell and back but are the most loving and happy children I've ever met. Yes, they have their moments but I can't count how many strangers or doctors comment on their sweet disposition. And honestly, I think this is God's way of making it possible for us to raise triplets with all the health issues. He has paved our path and all we have to do is follow.
Some pretty amazing things happened this year. First off, financially. It is no secret that having three babies at one time is expensive. Just the daily necessities is outrageous but tack on things like toys and clothes... wow! So many times we've been in situations that we were unsure of how we would pay for this or that the kids needed but every single time we always found a way. We would get a rebate back from something, a doctor's office would owe us money because they over charged us, our insurance would cover the entire purchase, things that we knew was God just helping us. It has been very important for Ricky and I to give back as much as we can to local shelters and others in need. You have to pay it forward.
Sitting here tonight I am one happy woman. I've literally felt myself grow in ways I'd never imagined and Ricky too. And I'm pretty happy at being me in my skin and the wife and mother to my family. A lot has changed in one year and I really think my therapist helped a lot. I'm not going to lie, suffering from PD was hard. It was even harder before I knew I even had it and before the medication but luckily, I got help for myself. My therapist has help me work on a lot of issues but more importantly, she was and is such a cheerleader for me. The thing is, when you have so much pressure it's so easy to feel like your not measuring up. She still to this day will tell me what an amazing person and mother I am. Some days I really need to just hear that. Today, I am no longer on antidepressants but I am so thankful I was.
Ricky has had the weight of the world on his shoulders. I couldn't imagine what it must feel like to be in his shoes knowing he has such a responsibility to provide for all 5 of us. The thing about Ricky is he gets himself out of bed and to work every single day to provide for his family. He is committed and me and the kids are so lucky. There are so many differences between me and Ricky but probably the biggest is when it comes to the kids' health. With each diagnosis, we both take it hard but it really hits Ricky in the softest part of his heart. He usually won't show it unless it's major but you can see it all over him the affect it has on him. Me, oh I can take news really bad but I'm usually wanting to fix it right away, what therapies can I get for them, services, specialist, etc. Ricky will do research (usually without me knowing) and come up with a plan of how to be the best parent he can for whichever one is being diagnosed. He is so understanding, compassionate, and head over heels in love with these children. They have the best daddy and they know it. These girls have him wrapped around their pinkie finger and he is Brody's hero.
It's amazing what this blog has turned into for us. It started out being a place for everyone to come to find out what was going on with the babies when they were born. Today, it is a priceless memory "book" for my family. Some days I think this will be it, I'll stop at this point or that but it's hard. There aren't baby books that fit our lives. Maybe I should create baby books for multiples! I don't know. We've had around 12,000 visitors to our website in a year and a half. That is a pretty large volume considering the blog is about our lives. Sometimes I feel like we shouldn't have our lives out for the world to view but the good out weighs the bad. Heck, it's kind of like reality TV. (FYI if you are a reality TV producer, contact me!! It doesn't get any "realer" than this and we should be entertaining!) Maybe there will be a day when I type my last post but until then, at least you get to see pictures of my cute kids!
Thank you to everyone for all of the support. All of the emails, letters, phone calls, prayers... it means the world to us. We are so thankful for the loving family, friends, and fans we have.
Best wishes for a happy, healthy, and successful 2012!
Love,
Ricky & Krista
Brody, Gracie, & Madi
