Teething and Triplets

I can pretty much say that the only person who reads this is my best friend for almost 2 decades now, so I don't really have to worry too much about being too honest. The last six months have been rough. No, that's not the right term. Hellish. Yeah, that's it. It seems like life is conspiring to keep me from ever sleeping again. Right around the six month mark all 3 girls started teething. And I'm not talking one at a time, each girl has had at least 4 teeth cutting or sitting right below the skin waiting to cut constantly since around Thanksgiving. A has 7 teeth, with #8 (bottom eye tooth) waiting, B has 5 with #6 cutting, and C also has 5, again with #6 cutting. Now to make things more fun, right around the time this all started Highland's (the most well known teething tablet manufacturer) recalled all of its product because they didn't have child-proof caps. I have yet to see them back on the shelves. I did find an alternative . . . however it is only sold (at least in my neck of the woods) at Walgreen's. And I really don't shop there. Even better, child #2 (I think I'll lovingly refer to him as Bam-Bam) is potty training. And has been with limited success (until very recently) for the last 8 or 9 months. Around the time of my last post he spent a whole week wearing underwear and staying dry until his afternoon, let's call it . . . 'elimination' which would inevitably end up in said underwear . . . and smeared all over the bathroom. At that point I put him back in diapers for a little longer. Not to be left out, child #1 (I believe Elroy seems most appropriate) hung out with his (slightly) older cousin and came back a mini teenager. He's six! He was a sweet, helpful, considerate child when he left . . . but he came back a back-talking, entitled mouth on legs. To top things off Elroy and Bam-Bam have hit that age when territory starts to become important. Now that Bam-Bam has the vocabulary to assert himself more the games have become a bit less friendly. At this point I'm just glad they haven't taken to marking the furniture . . . . And through it all darling Hubby has remained steadfastly . . . planted in front of the computer. I HATE EQ. I loathe it. He plays using Ventrillo (so he can talk to other players through his headset mike), so I'm never entirely sure that his remark (or answer to my question) was actually meant for me. Don't misunderstand me. I feel that computer games are a fun and worthwhile hobby and enjoy getting to play some of the rpg style myself. But somebody has to watch the kids. The girls are mobil now, and the boys play so rough. I love him, with all my heart. And I can think of at least 3 occasions in the last week when that has been the only reason I haven't thrown something at him. *sigh* What a time to decide to start blogging right? And to think, all that was my long winded explaination of why I haven't posted for so long . . . . I'll try to be better. I can't guarantee it . . . but I'll try.

Craft Time: Adjustable Sun Hat

I have triplets. My babies are 6 months old now and it's summer here in So. Cal. This means glaring sun and triple digit temperatures from April until mid November, and retailers in their infinite wisdom don't make sun hats in infant sizes. So, after realizing that I don't have the patience or the time to make hats for my girls myself, I decided to adapt ones made in toddler sizes.

And if you're interested, I'll show you how . . . .

What you'll need:

• broad brimmed sun hat, with or without chin strap


• complementary ribbon (my preference is a grograin, but anything washable will work), no less than 5/8in wide and long enough to wrap around the hatband 2 times


• secondary ribbon (decorative only, enough to wrap 3/4 of the hatband, totaly optional)


• decorative buttons (count the seams in the crown of the hat if 4 use 4 buttons per hat, if 6 use 5 buttons)


• hand-sewing needle and all purpose thread (entire needle must fit through button holes)


• 5 or 6 straight pins (per hat), washable pen to mark center point (if desired)

First, find the front center point (hats with 6 top panels will have a center seam front and back). My hats have 4 sections but no front seam, so I lined up the 2 forward seams to find the mid point. I marked this with a vertical straight pin.

Now find the center point on the ribbon (line up ends and smooth) and carefully mark (washable pen on the underside) and attatch to the hatband with center pin. If you're going to add any other decorative ribbon repeat as needed.

Now, using the seams as guides lay out and center the ribbon over the hatband, pinning at each seam (if using a 6 seam stop 1 before the middle back seam to allow room for adjustment).

Sew on your buttons at the seam lines to hold the ribbon on securely, and using a single stitch, tack the ribbon down every inch or so between the buttons.

The hat will now adjust down to fit the average newborn all the way to toddler. Quick, easy and completely customizable, this project is only limited by your own creativity. Blue ribbons with sailboats or sports equipment could easily make a plain hat suitable for daddy's little boy, too.

Enjoy, and Happy Crafting!

A Simple Rant: Don't Pray for Me

I'm Agnostic.

While this covers a range of beliefs (most being that a higher power exists but is not worshiped, only recognized), my personal belief is that no organized religion, large or small, has it right. Too much is open to interpretation, and everyone views that wisdom through the veil of their own experiences and prejudices. But that is a discussion for another post . . . .

Since the birth of my triplets (well, since they came home from the NICU) everyone feels the need to comment. While most comments are along the lines of 'oh, they're adorable' and 'are they all girls?' ('cause the pink car seats and outfits are so gender neutral), the comments that bother me are the constant offers of prayer. Now let me be clear, I appreciate the thought and the desire to help that most people have and on the whole I'm very honored by their kindness.

The issue for me stems back to a conversation I had with my grandmother (a minister) earlier this week. She told me about one of her divinity students (training to become a minister in her church) who was given the assignment of praying for my babies on a daily basis. Then my grandmother shared how much her student had enjoyed seeing the newest pictures of the babies SHE was helping to take care of through her assigned daily prayer.

Well, that I don't appreciate. It is all well and good to wish the best for someone, but to take credit for my childrens' well being when you've never met them or me . . . that is insulting.

Prayer didn't find and move to correct the blood flow issue that almost killed 2 of my girls in utero. Prayer didn't catch the lack of growth in the smallest girl in time to deliver all 3 safely. Prayer didn't find the necrotizing cyst on my ovary that was days from rupturing. Doctors did. Prayer didn't keep my girls alive and growing in the NICU. Dedicated doctors, nurses and volunteers did. Prayer hasn't kept them healthy, growing and safe since they got home. I have. My husband and my mother have. Our friends and family have. We have done the feeding, changing, bathing, burping, holding, comforting, playing and everything else necessary to get these girls to where they are now.

So, if you feel entitled to credit for my childrens' health and well being, even though we've never met, on the grounds that you added them to your prayer list, it's time to re-evaluate why you're praying. My children should not be your ego boost.

And if they are . . . well, don't pray for us. Pray for yourself.

Arguments with Myself . . . Environ-Mentals

I have family members who are rabid, foaming at the mouth environmentalists (one of my brothers and his girlfriend, and a cousin as well) who strongly believe that everyone should return to organic farming methods and an agrarian lifestyle. Great. Wonderful.

Unfortunately, using only those methods (only natural pesticides, ie other bugs, heirloom crop varieties, and no genetic modification to the plants), and farming every square inch of arable land on the planet will only feed 4 billion people.

There are 7 billion humans on the planet.

So, my question to them is . . . which half of the population starves to death?

Genocide for the right reasons is still genocide.

I don't know about you, but my budget is tight as it is. My family can't afford to have food prices double, much less quadruple (which is more likely). If the food supply is cut by half (or more) scarcity will cause prices to skyrocket.

The French Revolution had a similar genesis.

The question then becomes . . . how do we feed 7 billion people in a more sustainable, earth-friendly way?

If you really want to change the world then you have to stop lamenting how things should be and find a way to work with how things are.

Well Hello!

I guess I should start with an introduction . . . .

I'm Vixi. I married my high school sweetheart, and we have 5 kids.

Our oldest (boy) was born in 2004. Our next (boy number 2) was born in 2007, and this year (2010) we had triplets (all girls).

So, that's 5 kids under 6 . . . and I'm not even 30 yet!

Before you ask . . . no, we didn't have help (no infertility treatments, of any kind). Yes, multiples run in my family (boy/girl twins a couple generations back), no we don't plan on having any more, and no we aren't looking for a reality tv show.

I'm very into fantasy and medieval things (art, books, movies, you get the idea).

So much so that I am a card carrying member of the Society for Creative Anachronism (S.C.A. for short). I even converted my hubby and he periodically dresses in armor and hits his friends with a rattan (think solid bamboo) sword.

So, with all the craziness in my life I've decided to add blogging ('cause I like a challange). Here goes . . . .