Restoration

I've been pulled in a million different directions in the last few months. Work. Babies/Toddlers. Marriage. Friends. I am good at the juggle- I just feel heavy inside. It always feels so incredible when you reach that pinnacle and get to take a deep breath.

My event was front and center and that meant going to work early and getting off late. It is so strange to me how life after kids changes the emotions you carry. I remember living in this selfish world, not knowing(or even thinking) what we wold eat for dinner, what time we would both be getting home or what the entire week looked like on Sunday night. Now I plan it all in my head by Saturday at 4. These three have me planning my plan. I love it. So as I ease back into the normal routine- if there is ever a normal around here..we are soaking up our backyard.

Spring is here in Texas. I forget how much I LOVE APRIL. I am so used to extremes that I forget what the middle looks like! Low 70's- yes please. We've spent so much time outside. They eat outside, play outside and as soon as the water in the hose turns warmer- I can't promise there won't be any baths outside. We went with little expectations to our first Baylor baseball game. We ran into Aunt Karen and Uncle Grant and they just thought they were getting away for a secret date. The triplets made sure this wasn't the case. 

 Our sensory girl obviously is over that whole mess. She loves the water table and thinks the backyard has been transformed when it's filled. Becker thinks it's hilarious to turn over and dump out. Riggs, our engineer, is more interested in how it all works. These guys will be two next month and I am struggling with where the last twenty-three months have gone.

There has been so much tragedy in our nation this past week. Boston and West have been heavy on this momma's heart. There are a million different angles to look at these two tragedies and I think being a mom to three young children I take the mom view. I think about all of the loved ones on the side lines of the Boston Marathon. I think about how they are someone's children and someone was worried about them. Sounds small but when my kids are with a sitter I worry, I think as moms, the second our babies are born( or the entire pregnancy), we have this new gene, the worry gene, that crops up in our gut. I bet when the explosion occurred in West there were worried mommas all over the place. Moms that were far away from their kids, moms who held their babies tight wondering where they would get a package of diapers or a warm bottle for their baby. Needing things is hard to wrap our heads around. We have what we need, until a tragedy strikes. I am typing listening to Whit snore, my sound machine muffle my lab breathing hard and a huge glass of water on my night stand. I don't need anything. Turn off my power and disable my forms of communication and HOUSTON, we have a problem. Add that to any form of doubt/major safety scare for a loved one and you have a disaster on your hands. I am without words and as some sense of normalcy returns for the great people of West and Boston- I cannot understand the pain and loss they are feeling tonight. I hope in the coming weeks they gain restoration. I hope they feel the heavy weight of prayers pouring over them and their families. 

Gianna, we call her gg. She's quirky. She has a sense of humor that I already see. I am so thankful for what she brings to this trio. People have asked me a lot lately if we plan on having another one. I think it must be because they are turning two and in the typical family plan- you begin to try for another after your baby turns two or so. I laugh usually and say, "no, I think, we are good with our three!" But sometimes my mind wonders and I can't help but to want to read Gods mind. I think when we were trying for those long six years, I never asked Him what he thought- it was mostly about what I wanted. Lately, I've thought a lot about this plan he has rolled out for us. It really is perfect.  I've always said He has a sense of humor. I remember praying for three. Not necessarily all at once- just three babies in our life- period. I also said, on one particularly greedy night,  please, Lord, let one be a girl. 

He restored me on May 27th, 2011. He gave me everything I asked for, all at once. He answered every single prayer that I prayed. I think it was his proof to me that he was on my side- even when I doubted Him. 

Satisfied, that is my new answer when someone asks, because we are. I am restored, freed and in love with these three. There isn't enough time in the day to drink them in......

So many people shaping these sweet babies. My heart is full. We planned our first-ever beach trip. Our first flight with the triplets. Our first trip out of state.  I cannot wait. I am filled with fear, uncertainty, excitement, hope and most of all JOY. Seaside, here we come. 

Enjoy this video. I just love it. 

One day all babies will be born healthy...

This year, we celebrate our babies' Riggs, Becker & Gianna's second birthday. Two years of joy. Two years of learning. Two years of working with so many others to get our sweet 3 healthy and developmentally on track. Two years of making sure they are seen for their abilities and their character. 

When our triplets were born early at 29 weeks, we were scared and saddened by the challenges we knew they’d face. Many of our concerns grew out of fears we had about having triplets. Knowing they would come early. Knowing they would be tiny. Knowing they would live in the NICU for some amount of time. But we had hope; hope that they wouldn't come that early and be that tiny...

    

After five painful years of struggling with infertility, we finally found out we were pregnant!...with triplets! We were filled with excitement, but knew we were facing a high-risk pregnancy. Our gynecologist told us that triplets rarely make it past 32 weeks gestation, which brings a series of serious complications. 

When my water broke at 29 weeks, we were terrified. I couldn't face the thought of three 2 pound babies fighting for their lives. Unlike your typical delivery room, we had over 30 doctors, nurses and surgical techs waiting access our newborns and take them directly to the NICU. It was organized chaos. 

Gavin Riggs, Grant Becker & Gianna Grace were born on May 27th, 2011 weighing in at 2.8, 2.12, and 2.10, respectively. We were overcome with a mix of emotions; joy, anxiety and an array of questions about what was to come. During the next 9 weeks, the doctors, nurses, respiratory therapist and nurse practitioners held our babies in the palms of their hands. 

Devastatingly, after just a few weeks in the NICU, all three babies were diagnosed with NEC, Necrotizing Entercolitis, a gastrointestinal disease that causes destruction of the bowel. Although it only affects 1 in 2,000-4000 births, NEC is the most serious gastrointestinal disorder among hospitalized infants. All three babies were diagnosed and treated early because of the work of the March of Dimes. Because of their research and programs, our triplets were given a fighting chance to beat the odds. 

Thank you March of Dimes, the Shepherd Triplets are all home & healthy because of the incredible work you do.

Since the triplets were born, we have dedicated ourselves to joining with the March of Dimes to raise money to save more lives. 

This year, we have a goal of raising $3,000 for our family team, The Shep Trips. Please join us by spreading the word and making a donation to MOD in honor of our triplets' second birthday. Every bit adds up--$5, $10. Small gifts of thoughtfulness make a powerful difference. 

Go here http://www.marchforbabies.org/s_team_page.asp?seid=2034184 to donate. [ on the right-hand side of the screen, there is a purple button that says 'donate to this team' ]

Your tax-deductible donation will benefit babies and their families. Our family sincerely thanks you. We will continue our efforts to give back.

The March of Dimes has been dedicated to working toward stronger, healthier babies since 1938. Founded by President Franklin Roosevelt, MOD created vaccines that cured polio. MOD's focus has since shifted to premature birth & birth defects with research breakthroughs that have saved thousands of babies' lives.