Like Sands Through An Hour Glass...

Hello friends, hope all are doing well. Time seems to pass so quickly anymore. My last post was June 5th prior to going to Holiday World. To sum up Holiday World, the kids had a good time despite problems with the hotel and eating facilities the first night. Holiday World itself was wonderful. The girls loved to play at the water park and enjoyed what rides they were able to ride due to their size. That night, Alexa developed a high fever with strep, scarlet fever, and strawberry tongue. She was miserable for several days.


Speaking of time passing quickly, the girls turned 5 on Saturday. I can not believe it. On Saturday, we had an outdoor party at my mother’s house. We had a small 15’ diameter pool set up, many tables and chairs, a play set, and much more. The kids and adults all had a fun time. Needless to say, I am exhausted still. Our house is still trashed from the preparation that we had to do in combination with the toys and stuff we had to bring back home. Hopefully, tonight we will be able to do some massive cleaning.

Tonight, if my state legislatures do not pass a budget, I will be without a job tomorrow. That is until something is rectified. I would say welfare and food stamps here I come, but if a state shutdown is in effect, I will not be able to get these services. This brings new meaning to the song by Lee Greenwood, “If tomorrow all the things were gone, I’d worked for all my life. And I had to start again with just my children and my wife.” I am not worried though. True, I do not trust any politician to think of anyone other than themselves, I do think there will be some sort of budget past tonight.

Santa Claus, Here We Come!!!

Santa Claus, Indiana that is. We are going to Holiday World. We will be staying at Santa’s Lodge. While I am excited to be going, I am not excited about the drive there or back. 3 hours stuck in a car with (almost) 5 year olds. Though, I believe we can keep them occupied.


In case you were wondering, my Weight Watchers journey has been doing poorly. I am failing at journaling and during the two weeks surrounding Memorial Day, I gained 4.2 pounds. If you remember, I lost 4 pounds prior. That means, I was .2 pounds higher than my starting weight. That stinks. This morning, I decided to check out the points that I ate yesterday. I totaled around 52+ points. Most of it, 34 points was just on dinner. I had a culvers double cheeseburger deluxe with cheese curds. No wonder I am having problems. With my trip this weekend to Holiday World, I am going to be eating out a lot. Wish me luck as I enter unknown food establishments and buy food. Hopefully, I will be making some good decisions instead of poor ones. FYI - If you would like to find out the WW points on food you are buying from restaurants, I would suggest going to www.dwlz.com. This is a good site, if you have access to the internet. For a portable version, I would suggest the book produced and sold by Weight Watchers. It is a convenient side and has most of the chain restaurants in them.

As for my depression, I have been having some ups and downs lately. I am considering changing from Lexapro to maybe Cymbalta to see if it can help my drowsiness and also provide an appetite suppressant as a side effect.

Hugz,

Daddy Scotty

Weight Watchers

Diet:
After discussing and attempting weight loss on my own, I am going back to Weight Watchers.  Tonight was my first night.  I weighed in at 314.  A lot more than I wanted to be and more than I was the last time I attempted Weight Watchers.  However, I had lost 85 pounds then.  I know it wont be easy.  I have been down this path before.  The chocolate will keep calling my name, my girls will continue to offer me their leftovers, and people will tell me that one bite wont matter.  One thing that will help me out is that my family has just joined a local aquatic and fitness recreation center.   

Girls as Flower Girls:
On Saturday, the girls were flower girls in my cousin's wedding. They were so beautiful in their purple dresses.  They did really well, then they danced the night away w/boys.  This daddy was watching very closely.  The girls kept calling the bride a princess.  It was very cute. My aunt that has been fighting cancer was able to be there for her grandaughter's wedding.  It was a special day.  Not sure how long she has left, but am glad that we all got a chance to be together again.

Come on warmer weather

Hello fellow reader. I say that as I believe I only have one or two that read my posts. Either way, this is my way to document my life, both good times and bad. If you enjoy my posts, please feel free to continue to read.

The weather has been rainy and cool lately. When it wasn’t I was sick with a sinus cold. We are expecting warmer weather this week. Thank goodness! I plan to take the motorcycle out sometime this week. Possibly down to Nashville, Indiana. If you are an Indiana resident and want to offer up a good route to ride, please email me at tripletdad7@yahoo.com. I am always up for something different. Please note that I love scenery, not traffic congestion.

I am learning more things regarding medicine for the family. Vicks vapor rub, rubbed on the feet, helps a child (or anyone) that is up coughing throughout the night. Really, it has helped Emily.

If you haven’t noticed, I am now on twitter. I find it fun to enter some of my stats, which in turn updates my twitter widget on this blog. I have found several new parents of multiples on there that I have not had a chance to connect with up until now. As some of you know, I am part of several groups. The Parents_of_Triplets_Club and the Dads_of_Triplets_Club, both are yahoo groups. I also have a facebook and a myspace account. Through these social services, I have met some of the most wonderful parents of multiples (twins, triplets, quads, quints, and more). No, I have not yet connected with the Octomom or Jon and Kate group. Though, I am sure they could offer some interesting conversations. Personally, 3 is enough for me. Though, I am sure that if I had started with a higher order of multiples I probably would have found a way to make it fine as well.

Do any of my reader(s) have any questions that you want to know about me? I will answer just about anything. However, I will keep some information confidential. Ask a way. If you have nothing to ask on your mind, feel free to leave me a comment. I enjoy hearing others opinions or statements.

Thanks and have a wonderful week.

Hugz,
Daddy Scotty

The Great Depression is Over....or soon will be

No, I am not meaning the economy.  Not even meaning my fluctuating mood.  I am meaning, winter.  Winter is a time that I don't really care for.  I tend to stay inside and not venture out too far away from a warm building.  A couple of weeks ago, my family went to Florida.  The weather was an awesome, with tempetures in the 80's.  Then, I returned home to temps back in the 30-40's.  Now, we are in the 60-70's.  I have been taking walks and have even ridden the motorcycle once. 

With the newness of spring upon us, and the feeling that it is time to revitalize ourselves, I am looking to make a new spring resolution.  With the onset of warmer weather, and the multitude of activities that can be done outside, I am planning more outtings with the kids, [playgrounds, parks, walks, bicycle rides (for them), and who knows what else]. 

I recently read an article about detoxing the body.  Basically ridding the body of the toxic substances that we continually put in it.  This got me thinking.  Maybe it is time for me to attempt to change my mindset regarding things edible and drinkable.  What is potentially toxic and what isn't?  Reason of thinking, if I consider sugar and fat laden food as toxic instead of "can't eat cause I am on a diet", maybe I can actually accomplish my goal of making the scale go backwards instead forwards.

Wish me luck, and if anyone has any supportive statements for me, please post

Update on me, vacation, and Alexa's surgery

Writing, while not always in correct grammar or spelling, has always been an outlet for me to get out my “demons”. Recently, my comments have inspired some to confront me on some issues. While I do appreciate their and your concerns, I want you to know that I am well and good. However, I do have my moments, as we all do.

On Thursday, my daughters, Melissa, and I were invited to a friends’ house for a play date. It was a very nice night. We met some really nice people, and the kids enjoyed themselves. We adults enjoyed ourselves too. We played Guitar Hero and talked much of the evening. The dinner was a simple yet delicious pasta bake. It was accompanied with green beans, salad, cheese bread, and a rich, yet good, frosted brownie. The girls weren’t too thrilled with the 2 Great Dane’s that the family had. Alexa did eventually warm up enough to pet them. Madison clung to mommy every time the dogs got up. She is deathly afraid of dogs. I would enjoy having another play date in the future as we all had fun.

This last weekend my father and I went on a guy’s day out. We went to the Motorcycle Expo, Boat Sport and Travel Show, Dick’s sporting goods, and then out to eat at Logan’s Roadhouse. I came away from the Expo with a new Leather MC jacket and a pair of goggles that fit over my glasses. This will make riding in the evening so much easier this year. I really did appreciate the time that my father gave to me. I know that walking during all of that was probably a struggle for him as well. We talked and laughed the entire day. These moments together I treasure, as I know that someday, I will not be able to experience that anymore. Over the years I have learned and continue to learn that we need to make each moment count. Hug, when you can hug. Cry, when you can cry. Laugh, when you can laugh. I have seen first hand how the passing of a parent can affect a person. It is something I wish we would never have to experience. Though, we are bound to the circle of life. With every beginning there is an end. We just can never prepare for it.

We are almost prepared to head down to Florida for a nice vacation. Personally, I am not thrilled about driving the entire way with three 4 year old girls. Thankfully, we did buy some new movies that will keep them entertained. We also plan to take several breaks along the way and also to stop half way for the night. I can not wait to see the looks on my girls, as well as my wife’s, faces as we enter the park of what I call Neverland. (No, not the Neverland Rach) A place where a person is never old (though I am sure I will still feel it). When the joy of days gone by surface and we all think like a kid again.

I am not too thrilled on the fact that we have to come back and within days take Alexa to the hospital for surgery. She is going to have reimplantation surgery where the surgeon is going to disconnect the ureter’s and reconnect them to the bladder. This will hopefully end the kidney reflux that she has. It should also stop the yearly VCUG test that is quite painful and uncomfortable.

That is all for now.

Self-Loathing

     I guess it is time for some self loathing.  This all happened following a talk I had with a coworker.  Apparently, I threw her under the bus.  It wasn't my intention.  Seems like that happens way too often. 

    To all friends past and present:  If I have stated or done something that has made you feel that I am against you in any way, or if you feel that I have thrown you under the bus, I am sorry.  My mouth often goes faster than my mind.  My fingers, typing, go even faster. 

Quote:
God grant me patience
...and I want it right now!
The Patience Prayer
Bits & Pieces Magazine Vol. R/No. 2.

May God Bless You and Keep You

For those that know me, I have had a history of going to church. I have even held some teaching/leadership positions. Much to my dismay, I have fallen away from the church in the past 9 years. Now, I am going to church at Grace Missionary Church near me. My girls love it there and Melissa and I are now being fed spiritually.

During the past few days of driving to and from work, I have been listening to some Christian radio stations. This has made me think quite a bit who I am and what I should be. I know that I have a ways to go before I am fully representing the kind of Christian I want to be. However, at least I know now, I am on my way back.

I have had a simple and common bible verse going through my head lately. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life". This time, I was thinking of it in terms of a father as many have done before.

1.) "For God" - The creator of all and whom I place my faith and trust.
2.) "So Loved The World" - Full of sin, hate, greed, defiance
3.) "That He gave His only Son" - His ONLY Son. I can not imagine giving up one of my girls. I can only imagine what it would be like to give up my only. To take it further, to give up my Son to bear the sins of the world as described in #2, to die on a cross for me.
4.) "That whosoever" - Even a sinner such as I, with some defiance, greed and hate.
5.) "Believes in Him" - Believes in the Son to be the embodyment of God and the only path to heaven".
6.) "Will not perish" - In the fires of hell.
7.) "But will have everlasting life" - In Heaven.


It is my prayer that God will Bless You and Keep You safe.

New Year

Today is the 2nd day of the new year. How time quick time passes.

2008 Daddy Scotty's Recap:

- Girls turned 4 this year and oh, how they have sprouted in their independence and self awareness. They are so energetic and have developed greatly in their language skills. I never know what sentence they are going to use on me next.

- Girls started preschool. They love it. The teachers, Miss Diane and Miss AJ are wonderful. They hug on the girls and really have a close bond with the girls. Which is what the girls enjoy. Pastor Kurt plays the guitar and piano for them and they love singing the songs. I recently got a guitar for Christmas and when I play, the girls compare me with Pastor Kurt. Which, I must say is much better at the guitar that I am. I am only a beginner.

- Girls started gymnastics. It is an extra cost that is hard for us to always come up with, but I find it to be worth it. They really enjoy having an opportunity to due structured activity. If they grow up to be gymnists, fine, but that is not why we have them in there.

- In October, we were all in a car accident. A car ran a stop sign and we ended up T-Boning the girl. Thankfully, everyone but myself came out of it fine. I hurt my ankle. We have settled on the vehicle, Alexa, Emily, and Madison. Melissa and myself are currently waiting. She will probably settle soon, then me shortly after. I would like to make sure that my ankle heals properly. Right now, it still hurts with too much walking, standing, or climbing.

- In December we had our second Peanut Allergy scare. The girls received a piece of minuture reece cup in their school holiday bag. Alexa took one bite and after two epi-pens and 1 dose of benadryl she was off to the hospital in an ambulance. Let's just say, mommy, daddy, and grandma will be watching things more carefully now. We will also have a talk with the teachers so that they are aware of what happened and that they need to be made more aware of what the girls are eating. Especially, since every parent brings a snack in one day a month.

2009 Forecast:
- Alexa will be having reimplantation surgery in March to clear up the Kidney reflux she has. She is the last one to have this surgery. Melissa and I fear that we waited to late to do it. Alexa already remembers so much and does not let memories go. She still talks about the accident and peanut scare like it was yesterday. We pray that she will be mostly like Madison and recover really quickly.

- Melissa and I are going to start looking into a gym package to assist us in losing weight and keeping it off. Melissa is already on her way to getting a cover spot on GQ or Maxim. She is one HOT mama. Me? You might see me on Playgirl one of these days. NOT! Gotcha thinking though, didn't it?

- Girls will turn five in June and will no longer be my toddler princesses. I will have to accept it that my princesses are growing up and will be leaving the next in 13 years.

- In August, the girls will start Kindergarden. Starting them on the path of a public school based education.

Wish us luck in the New Year, we will need it.

Thanks, Daddy Scotty

2009

No, I am not dead

Everyone, I am not dead. At least, not yet. I have been busy with work and recovering from my vehicle accident (read on huffmantriplets.blogspot.com website). I am able to walk without the brace now, but am still hurting at night. I have found that my addiction to Facebook is becoming worse.

I really miss riding the motorcycle. Until my ankle heals, I can do it right now. Hopefully, when it does heal, it will not be below 40 degrees. That is my lowest temp riding abilities.

Please continue to review the posts that are being placed on the main website. I will update this periodically.

Blessings

What blessings I have in my life. My wonderful girls, my beautiful and caring wife, my awesome parents, and my Lord Jesus Christ. Without whom, I would not have had the first 2 sets of blessings.

As I sit here this morning, at work, drinking my coffee and preparing for the day, I am reminded of the good things I have in my life that far out way the bad. I fret about money issues, while their are some that have lost their homes, families, and way of life due to hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and financial downturn. For that matter, there are many around the world that struggle to have food to eat and a roof over their heads. I do have a job and I do have enough to get me by. My kids are in school and we can afford to go to McDonalds every now and then.

I live in a country that I am free to choose my religion and free to speak my mind. Free to choose our president and free to disagree with them.

For the second paragraph, I thank God. For the third, I thank the soldiers throughout history who have been willing to stand up and protect the freedoms that we usually take for granted.

Daddy Scotty

Warmer Weather

Wow, what a change in weather we have been having. First it is warm, then it is cool, then rainy, now back to sunny and 81 degrees. Looks like today would have been a wonderful time to take a nice bike ride. Too bad, I am at work.

This weekend, we will be gathering up all our garage sale stuff and planning a sale at my mothers house in Mooresville next weekend. It is the same weekend as the Anderson Orchard Craft Fair. We may even take the girls down there to have some warm fried biscuits and fresh apple butter. YUM!

Oh, if any of you Indiana folks know of someone that is looking for a motorcycle, my father is wanting to sell the one that is pictured here:

(Copy and paste the following link)
http://tripletdad7.blogspot.com/2008/07/my-dad-and-his-harley.html

Hola Amigos!!

Hello Friends,

Things have been going ok for me lately. I have been doing a lot more homework type stuff with the girls lately, since they have started going to school. Saturday I had them cut out hearts on a piece of paper, that I had folded and drawn. Then they colored on them for mamaw Linda. This homework stuff will only go so far with me. Yes, I am kinda smart, but when it comes to math, I will always defer that to Melissa. She is a whiz at that stuff. Speaking of Melissa, she has been losing weight lately and is doing and is looking wonderful. She is my inspiration to keep trying. Though, I have been sitting at the same weight for months now. GRRR. But I am happy for her.

I haven't been out on the bike much, but hope to in the next few weeks. With fall coming up fast, I love to go out through the country and look at scenery. However, I must always take extra caution with the falling leaves, wet roads, and other drivers doing the same. While I love to ride a lot, I love to live even more. Plus if I die, Melissa will make sure to kick my butt hard enough in the casket that I will feel it in heaven. The only problem that I usually have is that I ride alone a lot. So, if something happened, I hope I have the ability to call for help on the cell phone or have a car see me to assist. It is not by choice that I ride alone. The only people that I know that I can ride with are my parents. While they would love to get out and ride, they often can't for one reason or another.

Soon, we will be going to some fall festival stuff. I love going to the covered bridge festival in October, as well as the festival in Martinsville.

If any triplet dads (or moms or families) would like to get together sometime, let me know. I will see if we can work things out.

Take care,

Scott H.

Blogs and Glasses

Lately, I have been taking the extra time that I have in the evenings to go to my blogs, look over any comments, make any new blogs, then go to the top of the blog and click "Next blog". It is like taking a tour of the world all from my couch. I love looking at different peoples take on photography. I feel that you can see into the soul of the people that take the pictures. What are their like and dislikes. I see pictures of famous buildings all the way down to cardboard boxes that a homeless person is living in. It is interesting. If you have extra time, I encourage you to do the same. Now, I will warn that I have run into a couple time a blog that is inappropriate for younger audiences. However, most of them are interesting.

I went today to pick up my new glasses. My wife and the technician convinced me to get a pair of blue full rimmed glasses. I was hesitant at first, but decided to go with it. What the heck, who am I trying to impress these days. I must say, it does give a nice contrast to my face. I usually bought the gold/brown colored glasses that made my face look bland in comparison. I will try to get a pic tomorrow with the new glasses and again with the old ones.

Scott H.

Motorcycle Ride

Yesterday, I was having a rough day. The girls were driving me crazy. We went to a couple stores, and they had just been fighting, almost the entire time. On the way home, Melissa suggested that I go for a motorcyle ride and take the night out. So, at 3, I left and headed for southern Indiana. Down to Nashville, through Story, and down to Highway 56. So, I headed west two 37, then headed back north. So around a 200+ ride. My butt and back hurt.

Lucky in Love

I am home alone. Actually, it just feels like it. The girls are in bed and Melissa is still out playing bingo with her grandmother. I decided to watch tv. However, there wasn't anything on, so I turned on a recorded movie. This time, it is "While you were sleeping" with Sandra Bullock. What a good show. Yes, I am a biker that loves to watch Romantic Comedies.

Anyway, it made me think of the relationships that I have had and the one that I currently am in. I never really had a dating life prior to Melissa. In fact, she was the first person that really ever stole my heart. Sure, I had crushes, but I had never had that can't live without you until her. Melissa Was my first kiss, my first real date, and first real love. Funny, our relationship started out with a lie. I was a little bit shy...ok, I was really shy and that was the only way that I could get her to go out with me. Thankfully, she was and is forgiving.

We married in 1998, and have had many ups and downs. Just like a roller coaster. If I was to document where we are right now, it would be in the middle of a corkscrew. You know what. Regardless of hills or twists and turns, I will continue riding till the end of ride.

It is strange, when I think of why relationships usually fail, it is because both people decide that living individually is more important to them than living as one. I fully believe in the statement, "Two lives become one". Without doing that, a relationship is doomed to fail. When I look at my life, I can not see me without her. Sure, I am still my own man, but she is my life. When she hurts, I hurt. When she is sick, I hide...I mean, I try to be caretaker. I love her with all of my heart.

That being said, it is sometimes difficult to express the way that I feel now that I have triplets. They take so much day to day energy that I often negelect to express my feelings.

Why is it easier to express my feelings in a blog rather than in person?

New Park

Tonight Melissa went to play bingo with her grandmother. So, I loaded up the girls and headed to a new park, or at least one we haven't been too in a long while. The girls played on a merry-go-round that horses on them, played on the swing, and the went down the tallest slides. Seems like each time that I take them out they get just a little bit braver. Good thing that I have a little bit of confidence in them. Momma or mamaw would have a fit sometimes. Though, I always watch them and am ready to catch or help them should something go wrong. We arrived home around 8:30 PM. Time to make dinner. I made fish sticks and cheesy rice. The fish sticks were good, but the homemade sauce this time was not really good. The cheesy rice I made wrong, but I think I like it better. I can cook, just not in a rush or when I just want something simple. The girls got extremly dirty at the park and now I am planning on giving them a bath before bed.

Oh, when we were at the park we saw a couple of twin babies. The family talked a little to me, but then just stood in what I would imagine as terror for the future. I told them, at least they could put the kids in their rooms and shut the door. It isn't that easy when they get mobile and very vocal.

We had fun. That was the most important part. I love it that the girls see me as a chance to exit the normal day to day routine.

Last night, I took a motorcycle ride and left before the girls got up from their nap. It was a nice ride, until I arrived at my parent's house and realized that melissa had tried to call. The girls had been asking for me every since they got up, wondering where I was and when i was coming home. So, instead of relaxing with my parents, I saddled up my steel horse and rode home to rescue mommy from the night.

Scott H.

Sugarland Concert and State Fair

Tonight, as soon as I arrive home from work, Melissa is going to be attending the Sugarland Concert (Country Music) with her mother. Me? I will be staying home playing with the kids, hopefully not losing my mind. Not sure if we are going to go to the park tonight, or just take an evening stroll. Who knows, I may take them to a different park and let them ride their bikes. We will see.

Tomorrow, we are taking the kids to the Indiana State Fair. I was able to obtain two free tickets from some people where I work. Since the girls get in free, all we will have to pay for is the wristbands. The wristbands, one for each girl, cost $15 and will allow them unlimited kiddie rides from 12 - 4pm. That is a pretty good deal as $50 dollars worth of tickets only get us a few rides each. We were considering taking the choo choo wagon to the fair, but think that it will be more of a hassel than not. I hope the kids don't tucker out too soon. We will have to stop and take frequent breaks. I think I am going to get them on the elephant rides or at least the pony rides.

I will update you tomorrow how daddy does over the next day and a half.

Scott H.

What a day

This morning, I was woken up by my carpooler and her kids, whom my wife babysits for. So, I hurry up and get ready to go to work. When I get to work, I have an email stating that I did something wrong, again. Then I get an email from home, letting me know we have a problem. .....I have only been away for 1 hour and 50 minutes. Does anyone know of a hole around here that I can climb in? I can already feel my mind heading for "The great depression" and I don't know what to do about it. I still have 7.5 more hours in my work day.

Scott H.

Married life with multiples

Just to give you an idea of my history. I met my wife while I was in high school. We didn't date until after I graduated. We dated for about 3 years when we discussed and decided to get married. We were one of the magical couples that never seemed to fight. When we did it was usually over something stupid that resolved itself as quickly as it started. We tried to have children for many years. Finally we decided to go through IVF. It was an interesting ride to say the least. Ups and downs and excitement as well as disappointments. Then the children were born.

You hear everyday how 1 child can change the relationship between a husband and a wife. How it can sometimes take you to the edge. Well, as most things when you add 3 of something it increases with difficulty.

I love my wife. Always have, always will. But I really miss the moments when we were in each other's mind and new exactly what the other person was thinking. With triplet brain, that connection has mostly been lost. I have one way of thinking and she has hers. Tonight we started arguing about the process in which we were getting the girls ready for bed. It was stupid, but with anxiety of the girls constant bickering, fighting, and objecting to anything they are told, it makes it really difficult to think as well as communicate effectively.

Honey, I love you! Hugz!

Scott H.