Your birthday is the happiest day of my life

The best things in life come in three. I can't believe you are turning three! If there were ever a superstition about a lucky number, it's been proven to our family that it's the number 3. It wasn't always this way. Several years ago the number 3 was just that, a number. How things would change suddenly in February 2010. How life would change in July 2010. The thing is the number three would forever change who I am as a person and even better, I would instantly become a mother to three beautiful miracle babies.

Three. 

I've studied each of you from the moment you were born. How each of you move, breathe, your expressions, excitement, personalities, everything about you. You are each so different in every way but one... you are each a miracle and my gifts from God. You are each your own but I always see our family as one. We each go through every surgery, illness, success together. We are one. The love you each have for one another is breathtaking. Yes, there are times when the typical brother and sisters relationships happen but those are few and far between. 

Three years ago today was the happiest and scariest day of mine and your daddy's lives. That day and weeks/ months to follow are forever etched in who I am today. July 1, 2010 at 9:11pm I was the proudest person on earth. You had each already won a big fight. You were each the strongest people I'd ever met. I'm even prouder to say you are each still the strongest, happiest, most loving people I've ever met and will ever meet. 

Three years have gone by and today I'm the happiest and saddest person. I'm sad because time is passing so quickly. I feel like we were just celebrating your first birthday. I'm sad because I wonder if I'm measuring up as your mother. Am I being the mother you deserve? Am I doing everything you need of me? You each deserve the best and I hope everyday you see that I give my all and my very best to each of you. I'm the happiest person because here we are parents to three year olds. The fact that you are each healthy, thriving, joyful 3 year olds is proof that God is with us. Science had doubts, Science still has doubts but God has no doubts. I am happy because I know this.
This past year we've had some really scary things happen. I've been pushed beyond my comfort and just to make sure I was pushed even further from that comfort zone. We've had wonderful, priceless moments. Moments that literally make me stop and ask myself if this is really my life or am I dreaming. We do things like go on vacations specifically for you three and people ask us why we do it since you won't remember it anyway. Well, we do it because we live in this moment every single day of our lives.  I think our journey since the beginning have made us this way and I am thankful for it.
This past year the three of you started preschool. It's one of the best decisions we've made. I am amazed at how quickly things were learned and how well you each adapted. Last year on your 2nd birthday, Brody and Gracie were not walking. Today you are running! Each of you had a vocabulary of around 50 words. Specialist always seemed worried. For some reason I never worried about that. Today you are each talking in full sentences! Yes, even you Gracie with you paralyzed vocal cord. We've had a number of hospital stays. That is one thing I wish to stop repeating. Rather it was Brody in the hospital or  Gracie after her much needed leg surgery, one thing was amazing about that time... the love, compassion, and concern for one another. No matter who it was, you had two siblings by your side eagerly waiting to love on you. I was pushed beyond my scope of comfort as specialist started mentioning the letters "PPCD". To hear those words instantly made me sick. My immediate reaction was no- not my kids! but as time went on, I became open to the idea... although I didn't show up to the first two meetings because it literally made me sick! PPCD= Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities. Not because I'm in denial but because I see how far you've each come, I see how smart you each are. Early this year we started the meetings and testing for it. The funny thing is the only reason you (Brody and Gracie) even qualify is because of vision (Brody) and other health impairments and Gracie speech (paralyzed vocal cord) and other health impairments. Cognitively you both passed their grueling six hours of testing. Because you are both so very smart! Madi you went in and showed them who was boss and after 20 minutes they decided you didn't come near the possibility of their program. But isn't this what life is about? Being pushed out of your comfort zone and learning and growing? Sitting still, comfortable, just passing the days isn't what God designed us for. There is a reason this is our journey.
Today we celebrate three birthdays to three very amazing three year olds. I'm excited for you to light up over the Mickey and Minnie Mouse decorations and when you each receive your bikes! My prayer for you is that this next year will be full of growth, good health, continued joy, much love, and that your lives continue to show all of God's grace, love, and how glorious He is. You each must always remember that you have a big purpose in this world. As your parents, we must remember this too.

I love you more than you can ever imagine!!! Happy Birthday kiddos!!

Love,

Mommy

A great spouse loves you exactly as you are. An extraordinary spouse helps you grow; inspires you to be, do and give your very best. -Fawn Weaver

We've had a pretty great few days.

Thursday all 3 kids had an eye appointment. They are very detailed appointments and take hours each child. Before we could go to the appointment, Gracie had to go back to the Orthopedic. Her leg was hurting her so bad and she was not walking on it. They had to put her in a full leg cast that is not water proof to keep the bones from moving which was causing the pain. That means I had to cancel their birthday party. Anyway, we had lunch and headed to the eye appointments.
The girls did amazing. I can't believe how well they did especially Madi. She actually did the best. Brody's test was very long and detailed- more so than the girls. Because of his visual impairments, they test the same thing several times but present it in many different ways to be sure they are getting the correct results. The verdict was amazing! He is still legally blind and probably always will be but the amount of improvement his eyes have made in three short years in amazing. His bad eye improved 700 points! That is huge! Now his eyes are closer together in what they are able to see meaning he will be able to use them together. He had not been able too since there was such a huge difference. To qualify as legally blind your vision has to be over 20/70 in your best eye. He is 20/200 and 20/260. We are waiting for his new eye glasses to come in. Can't wait to see how he does with them! He has to go back in 9 months.
The girls vision is what it should be for a toddler. I didn't realize toddlers don't see 20/20. Anyway, they don't need to go back for 2 years.
Ricky and I had fun on Saturday night. Aunt Michelle ended up watching the kids because Madison had something come up last minute. She had a lot of fun with them and sent me videos and pictures. We ate at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. It was good but we won't go back. It was old both the location and the clientele. We were the youngest ones by at least 30 years! Anyway, we had fun and were home by 9:30pm. Ricky got me a new ring!!! I just love it!
We took the girls to get their haircut yesterday. Their hair is so long! After we took them to get a cookie but Madi started acting up and apparently Brody had been acting up while the girls were getting their haircut so we came home after. Sometimes these kids act like "THOSE" kids!
Anyway, it's been a great few days. I decorated the kitchen with the kids' birthday stuff since we had to cancel their party. They LOVE it. Oh, we also took them to Toys R Us on Saturday. They got $10 each in the mail for their birthday and Toys R Us sent them a card with a coupon. They walked the store and picked out what they wanted, handed the cashier their money and coupon, and $130 of mom and dad's money too, we walked out of Toys R Us. How do you like that? This is why Ricky and I have no clothes or anything LOL

great news!

I don't really have a lot of time to go into details right this minute but I wanted to share some amazing news we received yesterday.

Brody's vision has always been 20/200 in his best eye and 20/960 in his bad eye. Best vision for people is 20/20.
His vision is still 20/200 in his good eye but his bad eye has improved to 20/260!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is really amazing that so much has changed in just three short years. They also believe he can see some colors.

I'll update details now but couldn't wait to share!!

KP

I see something deeper more infinite more eternal than the ocean in the expression of the eyes of a little baby when she wakes in the morning - Vincent Van Gogh

Sometime I stop and really ask myself, is this really my life? Yes it's hectic and yes, some days bedtime can't come fast enough but this life I've been blessed with is really just AMAZING! Are every one's kids this awesome? To me they aren't but to their parents, are they really just awesome little people? I'm convinced Ricky and I were not this awesome as kids so it leaves me to believe that it's just my kids. Then I stop and keep thinking that Jesus loves the children so I'm sure there is a level of awesomeness in us all but these three just seem to have an extra dash of it.
We had a really good time on our little get away. The resort was beautiful and we did everything we wanted to do. We ate at really nice restaurants we'd never been to and some we don't even have in our area. The Miami Heat basketball team was staying in the same hotel so we saw them throughout our stay. They are so ginormous in person. Ricky went to get the car while we were still getting ready one morning and the elevator stopped and Lebron James got in. Just Ricky and Lebron James in the elevator, you know that always just happens. Anyway, Lebron started up a conversation with Ricky and was very nice. He looks so arrogant on TV but not at all like that in person. The extremely tattooed white guy on the team (I think his name is Chris Anderson) looked scary to me. Anyway, we saw the entire team and they all were very nice. The wives/ girlfriends on the other hand... not so much. It was amazing to see how the women treat their nannies and interact with their children. They may have millions of dollars but I'd take my relationship with my babies over the money any day!
DARS is an amazing organization and we are so very fortunate to be apart of it. They made this trip possible for over 300 families across the great state of Texas. It's a great dose of perspective to be in a setting like we were in with all the families have a child or children with disabilities so severe but the parents have so much joy and love for their children. We were little "celebrities" while at the resort because of course we are a family of triplets. All the staff and guest couldn't get enough of them.
The trip home was hard. There was a wreck on I-10 not even half way home that we were in a long line of traffic, and once we were in Katy trucking along a truck 3 cars ahead of us had a huge blowout doing about 80. Luckily I was going slower and far enough back to slam on the breaks and avoid everything. And then there is 610. If you live in Houston you know how horrible it is. We had just passed 45 near the exit for 59 when the person in front of us slammed on his break to a dead stop. I had to lock up the breaks, barely miss rear ending him and all I see is a huge red truck right on my bumper! Thankfully we didn't get in an accident but I was shaking! Sure enough there was an accident ahead that had the freeway shut down but we were able to take a toll road home and miss all that craziness. That is the worse thing about going on trips because you can't control how other people's driving will affect you.
We didn't make it in the house when there was an accident at the front door. Gracie fell and was crying. I helped her up but she didn't want to put any weight on her foot. We brought her in and iced her ankle/ foot area thinking she may have sprang it. A couple hours later she was trying to walk on it but we told her to just rest it. Fast forward to Sunday morning, I went in around 7am to check on her. She was up but laying quietly in bed while Madi was snoozing away. I quietly motioned for her to get up and come with me. She took one step and was in severe pain. Off to the hospital we went for XRays. Of course, it was a fracture but she broke her leg!!!! THE LEG she had the big surgery on in September! The doctors said it was very common in Toddlers to get these "classic tibia fractures". They splinted her with a soft cast and told me to follow up with her Orthopedic on Monday.
We can't believe it. We've done a little research and apparently all it takes is a little kid stepping wrong or falling wrong and they can get these type of fractures. It's horrible though because the poor girl has been through so much. The ER doc said she wouldn't be able to walk on it for several weeks but it should heal just fine. Their birthday party which is at the swimming pool is in 2 weeks. I have no idea what I'm going to do about that. They are also in swim lesson and she won't be able to do that anymore either. I just can't believe it! One doctor has mentioned she may have brittle bones but we asked another specialist and he didn't think so. She has had 2 breaks in her left arm, 1 in her elbow, and now this in her leg. We think that is an excessive amount of breaks. The ones in the arm they think were from when she was born and with therapy when she first started, the elbow is because her arm bones are not attached to the elbow socket (in both arms- she was just formed that way), and the leg. It's a sickening feeling because there really isn't a great cause to the breaks so no way to really prevent it since there isn't any trauma. I guess it's time to break out the bubble wrap!
We have a big meeting tomorrow about Brody and Gracie and their schooling for this next year. I have training for Vacation Bible School since I'm volunteering again this year on Wednesday night, all three of the kiddos have eye appointments on Thursday, and we have a date night to celebrate 10 years on Saturday! We will fit in a couple visits to the library this week too.
Until next time...

KP

Dad- a son's first hero and a daughter's first love

Fathers are wonderful people too little understood,
And we do not sing their praises as often as we should...
For, somehow, Father seems to be the man who pays the bills,
While Mother binds up little hurts and nurses all our ills...
And Father struggles daily to live up to "his image"
As protector and provider and "hero of the scrimmage"...
And perhaps that is the reason we sometimes get the notion
That Fathers are not subject to the things we call emotion,
But if you look inside Dad's heart, where no one else can see,
You'll find he's sentimental and as "soft" as he can be...
But he's too busy every day in the grueling race of life,
He leaves the sentimental stuff to his wife...
But fathers are just wonderful in a million different ways,
And they merit loving compliments and accolades of praise,
For the only reason Dad aspires to fortune and success
Is to make the family proud of him and bring them happiness...
And like Our Heavenly Father, he's a guardian and a guide,
Someone that we can count on to always be on our side.
                                      - Helen Rice


When the kids and I are out to events or meeting up with our friends, everyone always ask, "Where is Ricky?" my response is always, "He is at work.... Somebody has got to work in this family!"
It's always the joke and we all laugh but I am so blessed to be able to be a stay at home mom and raise these babies. Ricky works his butt off to provide for this family and he does a great job. He does whatever it takes to give us everything we need and pretty much have all of our wants met too. Not only does he work what seems like all the time, he spends so much quality time with us. That means so much. It's like he really isn't missing anything other than an occasional get together with friends. He is the best father to these three kids. The best. They love him so much and are so excited when he wakes up in the mornings or walks through the door. They each charge after him to give hugs and kisses, big smiles, and a bunch of talking. He is the most patient person I've ever met in my life and so sensitive to each of their personalities and needs. It takes a very special man to endure the journey we've been on with the kids since I was pregnant and I'm so blessed he is who he is.
Happy Father's Day Ricky! I'm so proud of the daddy you are to our babies. You are a wonderful protector and provider and always so loving to all of us. You didn't have the best role model of what a father is or should be but you have broke the cycle. I love you so much and I am in love with this family we've been blessed with!

KP

"Be strong, you never know who you are inspiring" -unknown

It's been a really hard week. We found out one of Ricky's long time friends loss his daughter this past Sunday in a freak jet ski accident. She was 8 years old. It's so horrific! Her viewing and funeral are tomorrow and of course we will be headed out of town so are unable to go. We hate not being able to support them during this time. It goes to show in a blink of an eye your life can be turned upside down.

As I mentioned, we will be traveling tomorrow. Please keep us in your prayers for safe travels there and back on Sunday. It's several hours away from home.

I'm frantically trying to get everything done in time so we can leave as soon as Ricky is home from school at noon. This trip has really snuck up on me! Where is this year going? I looked at our calendar and the next several weeks are so busy and the kids' birthday is 17 days away!!!

We got official word today that Brody and Gracie have been accepted into the PPCD program. We have an ARD meeting next week to get all the details but for now I know that Madi will be in private preschool and B & G will be together at a local elementary school. That is if I can handle separating myself from my kids so many days a week!!

We planned a little family vacation for the end of August. We've planned a Disney cruise and trip to Disney World for many days this week but have decided to just wait until they are a little older to really understand the excitement. Plus it's miles and miles of walking and they can't handle that just yet. Instead of that we'll still be in our favorite state being beach bums. We LOVE Florida!! I can't wait to get my Littles on a REAL beach :)

If you have Facebook, find me under Krista Bice Patton    I post pictures all the time that I don't have time to put on the blog!!

KP

You are where God wants you to be at this very moment. Every experience is part of His divine plan.

We love because HE first loved us  1 John 4:19

We have hardwood floors throughout our entire home except the master bedroom. They are so hard to keep clean but it hit me today how much I absolutely love our floors. For one very simple reason: the sound of my children's feet walking and running about on these floors and that precious little sounds. It's my second favorite only to the sound of my babies laughter. There have been many times I wasn't sure if we'd have that joyful noise in our lives. Looking back this time last year Brody and Gracie were not even walking. Today they are running and trying to keep up with Madi. Life is good. Even when the darkest clouds fill our lives, there is still such a bright light that continues to guide us on this path. We have it all. Not everything but everything that matters. We are blessed.
In a little over two weeks, Ricky and I will have been in each others lives for 10 years. We've weathered some big storms in the past ten years. We've had the loss of my dad, we've struggled to make ends meet, we've loss a precious little baby, we've adopted a child that did not want us to adopt him (live and lesson learned), bought a house, loss some friends and family along the way (by choice- rather theirs or ours), struggled with having a baby for several years, struggled with the pregnancy of triplets, and the journey of being parents to such premature babies, to now living and growing and knowing a love so big it hurts.
The past 10 years Ricky and I've changed so much. We aren't the same people that met each other all that time ago. Out of all those years there are only a handful of things that stick out: my dad's death, loosing our first baby, the lack of family, and Brody, Gracie, and Madilynn. With great sadness comes great happiness.
I don't know what the next 10 years hold; only God does. I know it won't be perfect nothing is but the love I know and have in my life is pretty amazing.

The ultimate goal in my life...
To be a Proverbs 31 woman.

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
(Proverbs 31:10-31)

"Around here, however, we don't look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening new doors and doing new things... and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." -Walt Disney

Ricky has his first test today. His schedule is very difficult. He gets home about 4am, showers, passes out, wakes up at 9am, eats breakfast, leaves for school, comes home from school around noon, does homework, takes a nap if homework didn't take hours, leaves for work. Luckily his school schedule is Monday- Thursday right now. Tomorrow morning the kids will have swim lessons so the kids and I will be gone as long as possible so he can sleep.
In really great news, Ricky received a promotion at work. He didn't know about it or apply for it, he just showed up one day this week and they asked if he'd mind the new position, and made it his.
The kids and I've been to the library 3 times this week. We are reading around 9 books per day. Since getting rid of the TV it's been really great but by the end of the day I'm exhausted. I told Ricky it's exhausting entertaining 3 Littles all day long. He asked if I missed TV and I said only the news. TV is much easier and lazier but I'd rather be exhausted every night then have that kind of life.
We are leaving next week to go on vacation. I'm ready to be poolside but we've not packed, got the car ready, etc.
I found a really cheap deal on a couple vacation packages. It's so tempting to go. The best part is I have someone we trust to watch the kids for 3 days or so to get away. Mexico or the Bahamas might be in our near future! We really want to go but I always freak out about having x amount of dollars in savings... sometimes being an adult sucks!
I got to get back to reading everyone's "Special" book. My voice and eyes hurt from all the reading!! LOL

KP

Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway. -Earl Nightingale

I am one proud wife. Today my husband will head back to school working his way to earning his degree in Engineering. He is doing this all while working full time (around 60+ hours a week), being a father to triplets not even three yet each with their set of "disabilities", and a loving supporting husband.  He is the provider for this family and has done a great job. I am excited he is doing this not only for our family, our children, but for himself. He deserves this. 

Please keep him in your prayers. This will not be a short journey nor will it be easy but I know he can do it. 

It's not about how bad you want it... It's about how hard you're will to work for it. 

Amazima Ministries- Helping to educate and empower the people of Uganda with God's love

Yesterday Madi and I headed to the library to return books we got on Thursday. I was excited to have a book waiting for me that I've heard wonderful things about.


I read the entire book yesterday. The book, Kisses from Katie was a real eye opener. Please read this book. She is younger than I am and has adopted 13 girls in Uganda. She came from a wealthy family but her senior year decided she wanted to go over to Uganda during Christmas break. This class president and homecoming queen quickly found her calling. Soon after graduation she went to Uganda just for a year as she promised her parents she would return to the States to attend college. As I read the book all I could picture was a modern saint. You'll have to read the book yourself for all the details but I can't stop thinking about the people of Uganda and Katie.

Picture from kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com

You'll notice something new on our blog, Amazima. It's the non profit she created to help send hundreds of children to school, feed the many literally starving to death, and provide basic medical care like treating for scabies, etc.   PLEASE click on the picture and check out the website. I'm so excited to get my multicolored necklace in the mail! I encourage you to donate as you see fit and everyone could use one of the beautiful necklaces or bracelets!!
Please pray for Katie and her efforts there.

Krista