The Orange Rhino's "Yell Less, Love More" Book Review and Giveaway

Hi! It's Jilly...and I'm a yeller. *Gulp* I hate to even say that, but it's true. I come from a long line of yellers. My parents were yellers (Sorry, Mom). Their parents were yellers. I don't know about their parents, but I have a good guess.

When I was younger I swore I would never yell at my kids. I hated it and didn't want that for my kids. Yet, here I am...nine years into the parenting gig and what do I do? Yell.

And, just like their mother before them, my kids hate it. They say I'm mean. They ask me why I am yelling at them. They yell back. That is NOT the spirit I want in my home. I want our home to be a place filled with peace, love, and joy. A refuge from the storms of life, not a stormy, non-peaceful place itself.

The Story of My Triplet Pregnancy: Part 2

Hi! It's Jilly. Last week I left you hanging while telling the story of my triplet pregnancy. So, today I'm going to continue the story!

I was between 26 and 28 weeks, and I had started contracting a lot harder and more frequently. My doctor came in to check on me and found that I was 100% effaced and dilated to a 3. He said the babies would be coming "today or tomorrow". It was a Sunday morning, so my husband rushed to church and talked with our Bishop. The Bishop asked what he could do to help. He decided to start a ward fast during sacrament meeting. (A ward is a congregation. A ward fast is when you ask the whole congregation to fast and pray on behalf of someone.) We also had people fasting and praying in my parent's ward, my husband's parent's ward, our old single's ward, and my great aunt's ward. (A single's ward is a congregation just for single people 18-30 years old. They are usually near colleges, so those members can have more of their specific needs met during that time in their lives. Hubby and I met in our single's ward.)

Happy Birth-Day: The Story of My Triplet Pregnancy

Hi! It's Jilly. My babies turned NINE yesterday!! People ask me all the time what it was like to be pregnant with triplets, was the pregnancy hard, etc. I figured today was as good a day as any to tell you all about it!

We had been trying to get pregnant for about two years when we finally got pregnant with the triplets. We didn't do IVF, but I was on all the same drugs you would be on if you were doing IVF because my body just wasn't responding. We did IUI/AI. If this last cycle hadn't have worked, IVF would have been our next option.

My ovaries hyper-stimulated, so I couldn't breathe. I was at work and I called my doctor with my symptoms. He said, "Get in here asap!" During that appointment they tested my hCG levels. On day 14 with a normal, single pregnancy the range of your hCG level is between 30-60, but can be up to 100. Those numbers double every other day. When they tested my levels my numbers were around 150(?)...but I was only on day 8 or 9 of pregnancy!! They said, "You're definitely having multiples, we just don't know how many yet." HOW MANY?! WHAT?!?! When they checked again on day 14 my numbers were 350. Yikes!

What is it like to have triplets?

Hi! It's Jilly. People ask me all the time--what is it like to have triplets?

 Well, the answer is...I don't know! 




Number 1, having triplets is all I've ever known. I've never had just one kid at a time. What is it like to have a "singleton"? How would you answer that question?



Number 2, I don't think of myself as a triplet mom. That might sound really weird, but it's the truth. Some triplet moms are really into their "triplet mom status". Every time you talk to them it's "triplets this" and "triplets that". I don't think I'm that way. At least, I hope not. If I am, please tell me!

I just think of myself of a mom of three kids...who happen to have been born at the same time. They all have such different personalities. And, they aren't identical at all, so they don't necessarily look like triplets.

I mean, they are three different people, so of course they have different personalities. But, that's not something people always think about when they think about triplets. They think the kids should be exactly the same. Well, just because they were "womb-mates" for 33 1/2 weeks doesn't mean they will look and act the same!



It is fun to see them interact with each other, though. They come up with the funniest things! It will be interesting to see the dynamics of their relationships when they are teenagers, and when they are grown and have children of their own.

I hope they remain close and can always be each others' best friends. That is one of my greatest wishes and hopes!



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Pre-Baptism Photo Shoot

Hi! It's Jilly. Last week I gave you a little preview of the pre-baptism photo shoot my sweet friend, Jenni, did with the kids. Well, I finally have them all watermarked and ready to post. I love, love, love how they turned out! They capture such a special time in their lives. Thank you SO much, Jenni! You are quite the budding photographer! ;)

For more photo ideas, follow my Photography board on Pinterest. To catch the next post, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Bloglovin'. 

Might be linking up with: Craft-O-Maniac, C.R.A.F.T, I Should Be Mopping The Floor, More the Merrier Monday, Make the Scene Monday,Serendipity and Spice, Home Stories A to Z, Titus 2 Tuesday, Take It On Tuesday, What We Wore, Read, and Made Wednesdays,  The DIY Dreamer, House of Hepworths, Mom on Timeout,Pinterest Power Party, My Favorite Finds, Weekend Wonders, My Turn For Us, Fancy This Friday, Sew Crafty Angel , Friday Favorites, Sunday FUNday,

Mothers of Multiples FAQ

Hi! It's Jilly. As a mother of triplets I get asked a lot of questions. A lot of the same questions over and over...and over again! Some are "normal", some funny, and some are just plain dumb. I'd like to answer some of those questions for you now.

Notes:
#1- I wouldn't actually answer most questions this way. These are just responses I *wish* I could give sometimes.
#2- If you are a friend of mine, I am not annoyed if you've asked me these questions. But, when random strangers stop me in the grocery store when I am clearly busy wrangling my crew and in a hurry, that's when these answers run through my head.

Random Stranger: Are those triplets?
Me: Yes

RS: Are you sure?
M: Pretty dang sure. I clearly remember seeing three babies on the ultrasound, and saw three babies get taken out during the c-section.

RS: Did you know you were having triplets?
M: We knew we were having multiples when I was 8 days pregnant. (This is true!)

RS: Do triplets run in your family?
M: Yeah, they run all over the place. Can't you tell?! Hey, kid! Get over here!

RS: Are they natural?
M: No, we plug them in at night. They are robots.

RS: No, I mean, did you do fertility treatments or were they spontaneous?
M: Why do you want to know? (This is actually a good answer. Sometimes people are curious because they have been dealing with infertility, and I am happy to answer any and all questions about that.)

RS: Oh, I was just curious.
M: Yes, we tried for about 2, 2 1/2 years to get pregnant and needed some assistance. Let's talk about your sex life and medical history now!

RS: Are they all from the same father? (yes, I have been asked this!!)
M: Seriously?!?!?!?!

RS: They are so cute! Are they all identical?
M: Well, I have two girls and one boy...

RS: So, are they?
M: You obviously failed biology, didn't you? A boy and a girl can't be identical. Remember that line from "Kindergarten Cop"? "Boys have a..."

(source)

RS: Oh, ha ha. Right. I meant, are the girls identical?
M: Have you looked at them at all?! One girl has blonde hair and one has brown hair. You tell me.



RS: You have your hands full.
M: Yes. Yes, I do. I'm so glad you stopped me and my full hands to tell me that!

RS: If I had triplets I would kill myself! (Yes, I've heard this one, too.)
M: Did you really have to say that in front of my 7 year olds?! What are they supposed to think when they hear that?!

RS: How do you do it?
M: One day at a time, and with a lot of help from The Lord. (I actually say this.)

How many of you multiples mamas can relate?

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Might be linking up with: Craft-O-Maniac, C.R.A.F.T, I Should Be Mopping The Floor, More the Merrier Monday, Make the Scene Monday,Serendipity and Spice, Home Stories A to Z, Titus 2 Tuesday, Take It On Tuesday, The DIY Dreamer, House of Hepworths, Mom on Timeout,Pinterest Power Party, My Favorite Finds, Weekend Wonders, My Turn For Us, Fancy This Friday, Sew Crafty Angel , Friday Favorites, Sunday FUNday,