The Lippens Democracy

So here's how it works in our house. We have a little democracy. In the middle of the night...majority rules. If one baby wakes up, but the other two are asleep, then the awake baby has been outvoted - we just soothe him/her back to sleep until someone else wakes up. At that point, two babies are awake, so the third one is outvoted and everyone gets up to eat. That's just the way it works. It's only fair.

So the other night, Haley woke up, but Tyler and Elli were still asleep. She was outvoted so I gave her a pacifier. Soon after that, Tyler woke up, too. According to the rules of our little democracy, it was time to feed them all, but that night, I was REALLY tired. And in my stupor, I decided that I should get a vote. And I decided that in the case of a tie, MY vote broke the tie. Haley and Tyler voted for food, Elli and I voted for sleep. Elli and I won. So I gave Tyler a pacifier and I re-inserted Haley's. I went back to bed with a little chip on my shoulder. "Oh yeah babies...I'm the boss here. I just voted you back to bed. Take that." Which was immediately followed by Haley's famous window shattering, floor shaking, nerve tattering screams. You see, I may have the vote that breaks the tie, but Haley...she has VETO power. Every time. So now the rule is...whatever Haley wants, Haley gets. Vote on that, mom!

Tyler

You would never know this little guy only weighed 2 pounds 4 months ago! He's such a little squirt - he's trying his best to outgrow his sisters! I put a pair of newborn jammies on him last night and he couldn't straighten his legs out! I was so tired I just left them on him - I mean who sleeps with their legs straight anyhow?!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to the most wonderful husband and daddy in the world!!!! The kids and I are so blessed to have you in our lives! You really are the best and we love you so much! I don't know any other man who could handle three infants with such ease and grace. I always knew you'd be a great dad - looks like you found your purpose in this life, honey! Dale would be so proud!

P.S. The kids dug into their new piggy banks and bought you the Nintendo Wii so we can have many late nights bowling in the basement! Tyler says, "bring it on big daddy"!!!

Little Wonders

**I started this blog as a way to share photos and stories with our friends and family, but somehow it has evolved. It is therapeutic for me - helps me see the humor in this insanity! Thanks for being a part of it! This blog entry is very personal - something I haven't really shared with many people. For some reason I feel led to tell this story. The story of why I named this blog "Little Wonders"...

In vitro fertilization is intense. It challenges you both mentally and physically, sometimes pushing you further than you ever thought you could go. For Jeff and I, it was an emotional journey mixed with fear, joy, excitement, pain, tears, laughter, prayer and wonder. We relied heavily on our faith to get us through it all.

After the initial surgery to remove my eggs, we were told that they were able to retreive 17 viable eggs - we couldn't have asked for better news. We were on cloud nine. We were expecting a phone call the next day to tell us how many fertilized. Hoping for at least 10 to have fertilized, we were devastated to learn that only 4 made it. This was extremely low, and it was only day 1. These eggs had to at least make it 3 days in order for them to be ready to be put back. Not only did they have to continue to divide and grow, but they had to be healthy enough to survive the process of being transferred back to me. Things were not looking good, and our normally optimistic doctor sounded worried. They tentatively scheduled the transfer surgery for day 3, and we were told we would not hear from them again until we arrived for the procedure - even if none of the eggs survived. The next day and a half were absolutely agonizing. I mean, less than 25% fertilized - how on earth did we expect any to have survived beyond that?

I couldn't think. I could barely breath. I just prayed. And so did Jeff. We were faced with the very real possibility that we would never have our own biological children. I remember standing in the shower the next morning, crying. I couldn't take any more. I was exhausted. I knew this was something that was much bigger than I was, and I gave it all up. I gave it all to God. And I asked Him to tell me everything was going to be okay. I NEEDED Him to tell me everything was going to be okay.

The morning of the transfer, the alarm went off. Normally, I just roll over in my sleep and hit snooze. Not that morning. That morning, there was a song. A song I've heard a hundred times. But this time it was different. I just laid there and listened to the words. Words I had heard so often, but never really heard. Right then, I knew everything was going to be okay. And I've known ever since.

I carry the words to that song with me everywhere I go. I thank God every day for the song, and for our Little Wonders.

Little Wonders - by Rob Thomas

let it go
let it roll right off your shoulder
don't you know
the hardest part is over
let it in
let your clarity define you
in the end
we will only just remember how it feels

our lives are made
in these small hours
these little wonders
these twists & turns of fate
time falls away
but these small hours
these small hours
still remain

let it slide
let your troubles fall behind you
let it shine
until you feel it all around you
and i don't mind
if it's me you need to turn to
we'll get by
it's the heart that really matters in the end

our lives are made
in these small hours
these little wonders
these twists & turns of fate
time falls away
but these small hours
these small hours
still remain

all of my regret
will wash away some how
but i cannot forget
the way i feel right now

our lives are made
in these small hours
these little wonders
these twists and turns of fate
time falls away
but these small hours
these small hours
still remain