You Sure Are Brave!

aka tips for taking triplet toddlers to Disneyland all by yourself.

Inevitably when someone hears I'm going to Disneyland they ask who I'm going with. Just the girls and I! Then there is some comment about bravery or a "Wow!" with that look of vague terror in their eyes as they imagine facing my plight. Even Aba can't figure out how I do all of these things alone. This last trip we had company for the first day and most of the second so it was a bit different, but the basics are still the same.

Step 1: Plan

This is usually the first step in any outing for me. Going to the grocery store? Plan. Taking a walk? Plan. I've found that having a well-stocked diaper bag is key to any plan. Diapers, wipes, a bag of non-perishable snacks, napkins, straws, a small first aid kit, sunscreen and a small plastic bag live in there. Another wonderful addition are those disposable sippy cups with straw lids so that I can divvy up beverages. I also keep a pack of wipes, 6 diapers, three jackets, a blanket, a carrier and a babywearing jacket and changes of clothing in the back of the car.

For Disneyland trips I add an old M&M tube that I fill with pennies and quarters for pressed pennies, a pressed penny album, an autograph book and marker, and a selection of extra batteries for the camera. To be added for the next trip are sunglasses and sunhats.

Step 2: Figure Out Food

I then plan breakfast, lunch and snacks for the trip and pack the cooler. I toss in 2 bottles of water for me and each of the girls gets a full water bottle, too. (I freeze one of my bottles to act as an ice pack.) Great things to bring are fruits and veggies, hard boiled eggs, string cheese, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cheese sandwiches and left over pizza. For myself I usually add in a veggie and cheese wrap. 

When we made our first visit, Kathy introduced us to a wonderful picnic spot so we usually go there or next to Princess Fantasy Faire. We also get one treat of ice cream, a pineapple wedge or Dole Whip (girls' choice) and a drink on the way out (coffee for me and the girls get a flavored milk).

Step 3: Plan Clothing

I admit it. I plan their clothing for pictures. I like them to be comfortable, but I also want them to look cute all gathered together. Their newest trend has been a shirt of some type, a skirt, footless tights, and sneakers. For myself, I'm looking for comfort, mobility and something that looks decent. Once I've figured out the girls' clothing, I tag them. 

We have the Brickhouse Child Locator and I slip the tag onto their pants the night before so that we just get dressed and go. The only problem with this is that I have to be certain I put the correct pants on each girl.

Step 3: Charge all of the Electronics

GPS? check

Camera batteries? check

Phone? check

Step 4: Gather My Personal Stuff

A new thing I started using on our last trip is a hip pouch. Think a flat fanny pack work on the hip. Into this I put the small camera, my cash and ID, my pass and the tracker for the Brickhouse. I carry my phone and Photopass card in my pockets.

Then I decide on cameras and lenses. I really try not to cart around everything I own even though it seems that way. I always take the small point-and-shoot camera and usually also bring my big one. And I pick one lens. That's where the thinking comes in. What am I trying to achieve? Artistic shots? Indoors? Portraits? A little bit of everything?

Step 5: Plan for the Unusual

Is there a threat of rain? Toss the rain coat and umbrella in. Does Batya have a bad diaper rash? Bring some cream. Are we staying later than usual? Bring jammies and bottles for the trip home. Is someone particularly clingy? Move the carrier to the diaper bag. Anything else?

Step 6: Pack the Car

I like to get as much as possible into the car and ready to roll the day before. I also pack the cooler and leave it open in the fridge just waiting for the frozen bottle of water to be added. This way we can have a nice breakfast and get ready without all of the running.

Step 7: Have Fun!

And realistic expectation. When you got with toddlers you have to expect to move slower and know you aren't going to be doing all the rides you might want. This is when it is important to remember that Disneyland is both rides and experience. There are years to get in all of the rides so enjoy the experience.

Bonus Tip: Be Firm

I'd have to say that this is the biggest part of the trip. I mean, I can buy diapers and changes of clothing and food and drinks when there so none of that is all important. What I can't buy is having my girls safe and somewhat behaved. The key to this is firmness. 

I allow them out of the stroller and let them run and play. We stop at some of their favorite places for long breaks. I let them wander and explore a bit. But there are two rules. Stay in sight of the stroller (or me if we are in a line) and come back when I call. If they don't do either of these, they get a warning. Still running all over? Buckled into the stroller. More than one running or one out of control? We leave.

I practiced this at Ikea and Target with them and we have left. Then I tried this at the LA Zoo on a Tuesday and it worked well. At Disneyland I've had to put someone in the stroller and I've given warnings and asked if they wanted to leave, but we haven't even advanced to buckling.

Getting Ready to Head Back Home

I have to say that I'm a bit melancholy about it. Moreso than usual even. I really got a feel for living here by merit of the girls being sick and Aba being exhausted and just having to get out on my own. I went to a couple shiurim with Ayelet and cooked a bit at home. I really like the area we stayed in, too.

But I know the girls need their stuff and their routines. If we were staying for a while it would be different because I would have brought more of "home" with us. As it is, I know htey are feeling restless and cooped up.

That said, Shira has been saying that she wants to stay in Israel.

Depending on the way the flight home goes we might be back sooner rather than later. But first I need to get Batya's situation figured out.

She goes a couple days without vomiting and then something triggers it. She has no symptoms of a stomach bug and she got it first. It definitely was a bug as it went through the females here and we passed it to Ayelet. (Who in turn shared her cold with Aba.) But now it is something else. I'll be making notes on the plane with as much as I can recall of it so that we can share it with the doctor. We are going to call and leave a message to have an appointment made Tuesday morning and then Aba and I are going to take her while Safta watches the other two.

I need to go finish a couple things and then we are off to the Kotel and to hunt down something to wrap up my carseates in. (These backward countries don't allow you to use a carseat for children. Apparently an adult seat belt they can easily climb out of is "safer" than a seat.)

Expectation of Privacy?

While we were at Metsada today, I was getting Chaya up into the Storchenweige. Not a huge deal until I noticed a guy taking a picture of something and I seemed to be moving into his line of sight. I tend to bounce and shift as I get the girl settled into a carrier and I know how annoying it is to try to take a picture and someone gets in the way. So I moved.

Well, apparently I was the subject of this guy's picture. He seemed a bit put out when I expressed my displeasure at this idea. If the story ended there it would have just been an odd bit of the story of our day, but it doesn't. When I asked Aba why he didn't say something to the photographer since he figured it out before I did, he said that there was nothing he could do since we were in public. I'm really confused at how this matters since I am the subject and I don't want my or my child's photo taken by this stranger.

I've gone out of my way to prevent strangers from taking photos of my children and as they become more interested in photographs I am teaching them that they have to ask someone permission before taking their picture.

This brings to mind something that my friend Ayelet mentioned about living in The Old City. When we were talking about it she said that she has a friend who lives there and the friend told her that sometimes when she is taking her trash out at night tourists take her picture. I can't be the only person who sees something wrong with that...can I?

Am I really that "out there" in my feelings on this? Is simply existing in a public space reason for my privacy to be invaded?

A Puke-y Update

The dates are off from when I'm writing and when I'm posting this because of the time changes. It is currently 2:10 AM on Friday morning. So "today" means Thursday.

Well, things went pretty well today. The girls slept until 7:00 around the time Aba came back from Netz at the Kotel. Then we had a light breakfast and tidied up. We were thinking all was well with Batya when she threw up twice. So Aba called our pedeatrician. The call back came when Batya was sleeping with me on the sofa. She said to basically do what we were doing and not to worry about food because when she was hungry she would eat.

Chaya and Shira were going stir crazy so I got them dressed and we walked a bit and stopped at Super-Pharm (drugstore) and at this cool little herb/vitamin store where I picked up some probiotics for Batya and some (kosher!) Rescue Remedy. We ended up coming back home about two hours later and Batya had slept the whole time.

I made lunch and she wanted some spaghetti and chicken and was adamant about getting some sauce, too. It stayed down for the most part. The only time anything came up what when she was screeching after Chaya kicked her in the stomach. (Nice and sisterly, huh?) I had a nice migraine by then but a Coke Zero, two Acamol and a nap killed it.

Batya and Chaya decided they wanted to sleep with me so we moved to their bed and Aba was supposed to make sure I was up in an hour...but he fell asleep on the sofa with Shira so we all slept for about five hours.

So everyone gets up and we have some light snacks, water and juice, play, tidy and fold some laundry. Then Chaya vomits. Three times. But (baruch Ha-Shem!) not as badly as Batya and she didn't get to the dry heaves. So, it is 1:45 AM here and I have a puking toddler in my arms, an ex-puking toddler asleep on the sofa with her bear and a toddler worried about her towel.

I managed to get Chaya and Batya into bed together and left Aba and Shira on the sofa. I gave Shira some probiotics preemptivly and watered her milk down.

But it is 2:05 AM and I don't think I can sleep. I guess I'll work on my hat or my sock.

Aba and I Have Decided

that we need a vacation do-over. I'm thinking late April/May-ish.

Mini Israel, Vomit in My Hand and Monsters in the House

Today we attempted to get the girls a bit back on schedule by visiting Mini Israel. It is about a 45 minute drive so we left at 10:00 AM as the girls were heading into meltdown. Shira and Chaya napped in the car but Batya stayed awake. Aba, Batya and I snacked on some crackers while we let the other two sleep a bit more. (The plan was an hour nap there and to take a little driving tour on the way back so that they could get 60-90 minutes more and then they would be ready to sleep in the evening.)

We wandered around the exhibit a bit and it was fun. It was a bit warmer than we expected (The car's thermestat said 30 degrees celsius!) and soon Batya was asking for the carrier. I popped her onto my back and continued on our journey.

Soon, Shira starts crying that she needs a diaper. Being in the middle of an amusement park, warm and not wanting to hike to the bathroom and back again I did what any self-respecting ima would do: I lifted her dress and stripped off her diaper. I was just finishing attaching the second tab when the sound came from Batya.

My back was covered with warm, sticky and sour liquid and Batya was screeching. We got her clamed down and staning in the stroller after another bought of vomit. Aba took Shira and Chaya and I grabbed the stroller and we headed to the exit. On the way out, Aba purchased shirts for Batya and I and some cold beverages. I got her cleaned up and changed my shirt. I gave her some water and about 10 minutes later that came up, too. It was mostly water since she had gotten the crackers and cheese out in the park. We decided to risk it and headed to the car.

I put her in the seat behind me so that, if need be, I could jut open the doors and get to her. I could also easily uninstall the seat. And yes, I did need to. Once I got her out and the road and she had a bit more cheese to get rid of. That emptied her tummy as the other two times it was pretty much dry heaves and some drool into my hand. (Does allowing your daughter to puke into your hand make you an official mommy?)

Aba was so worried he kept looking back and missed two turns that would have gotten us home quickly. So we took a little detour through Mea Shearim.

We got home and Batya and I took a shower and got into pjs. I tossed the clothing into the washer and also got the carseat cover washed. We ended up napping for about five hours. I had planned on getting her asleep and then taking the other two for a walk, but Chaya joined us in bed and Shira and Aba napped on the sofa. She had a couple more dry heaves between 3:00 PM and 8:00 PM. She woke around 8:45 asking for chalav. We gave her a bit of water and that stayed down so she had some milk. The she wanted a banana and that has stayed down, too.

It is now 4:00 AM and she is asleep again with no repeats. She has a very mild fever but she is teething (last two molars!). I suspect it was a combination of the flight, food changes, sleep changes, the sudden warm weather at Mini Israel, the preassure on her tummy from when I knelt down and the excess drool she swallows when she teethes.

Another new thing is Shira's fear of monsters. She has mentioned it a couple times and I was trying to come up with an answer. I finally did and it seems to have worked. I had tried the "Monster Spray" idea but she just wanted to spray and spray and spray and wasn't satisfied. Fail.

Instead I taught her to say "sh'ma" when she even thinks she sees a monster. I told her that monsters don't like to hear the Sh'ma so they will run away if they think she is going to say it. She practicied a few times and didn't mention monsters again so I hope it worked. I'll have to tell Aba about that one so that he knows what to do.

We've Arrived!

Safe and somewhat sound. I'll go into the whole story later. :)

Here are a couple of pictures from hell...err...the plane. And how I carted my carseats through the airport.

We're off to Israel!

Our flight leaves early so we will be leaving the house bright and early. We'll be gone for two weeks and I hope to update a bit from overseas, but who knows what kind of time I'll get. So I've set some posts to go live while we're gone.

I'll be available via email if you need me, but won't be on Twitter or Facebook.

Packing, Packing, Packing

I'm hoping to get a chance to add some pictures of the carseat set-ups, but I might not get the chance until later.

I've gotten us pretty much all packed. I have a couple things to toss in (my toiletry case, phone, perishable food, etc.) but really I feel like we can leave without a problem. Here's what I've got:

Large suitcase with girls' clothing, my clothing, carriers and some diapers.
Medium suitcase with diapers, wipes, girls' bottles, some new toys for the trip back, shoes, various electrical chargers.
Small bag with food and drinks.
Diaper bag packed with books, a couple small toys and my knitting.
Small suitcase carry-on with change of girls' clothing, my toiletry case, toys, camera case.
Luggage cart with two carseats puzzled together and attached with the LATCH straps and bungee cords.
Third carseat strapped to rolling carry-on with bungee cord and tether strap.
Stroller
Aba says he will have 1 suitcase and his briefcase.

The diaper bag fits, food bag and Aba's briefcase will be in the stroller basket or hanging from the handlebar. Two girls will be in the stroller and one on my back. One of us will push the stroller and the other one will control the two other pieces.

Should be fun!

Not Much to Report on Today

and I really don't feel like writing. I've been writing a lot for when we are gone and I'm just beat.

This trip has me wishing I had an extra set of hands. I'm not sure how all of this is going to make it without serious complaint.

Carry-on and gate check
stroller
3 car seats
bag of food
diaper bag
our carry-on
dh's carry-on
carrier

Checked luggage
Suitcase with our clothing
Suitcase with diapers and shoes
Suitcase with rear-facing foot for car seats, toiletries and assorted electrical chargers
Dh's suitcase

I'm going to try to narrow down the suitcases to two but it will depend how I can get stuff fitted. For the carry-ons, I don't think I can really narrow it down except perhaps splitting the food up among the diaper bag and carry-on.

On top of all of that, I'll need to gate check the stroller and then pre-board and install the car seats while Aba corrals the girls to board at the end. I know how hard it is to do that alone and I also know how much Aba stresses when they are "running free" anywhere much less an airport. We also have the option of checking the stroller through which would be perfect except for the layover in Paris. Definitly the subject of some more discussion.

A Traveling We Will Go

Well, it looks like we will be heading to Israel before the girls turn three. (After our last trip we said we would go after they turned three. That didn't last. We miss it too much!) So, I find myself researching and making lists. We are buying 5 seats so that means 10 suitcases and 5 carry-ons. I keep joking about that and you should see the look of horror on people's faces at the idea of lugging 3 toddlers, 3 carseats, a stroller, 5 carry-ons and 10 suitcases through security.

Seriously, though, I'm thinking minimalist.

• 1 large suitcase for the girls and I (or two smaller ones depending on the logistics of the rental car)
• 1 small suitcase with sposies, learners and potty seat for the girls. (This is going to depend on how pottying is going. I might take the potty seat thingee on the plane if they are really into using it.)
• 1 small/medium suitcase with toiletries, shoes and the assorted electrical cords and chargers. I also need to put the rear-facing boots for the carseats into there since you can't rear-face the Radians on the plane.
• 3 carseats that I'm going to use bungee cords to connect to a rolling luggage cart.
• Stroller. We haven't decided which to take. The Joggers are beasts and don't fit everywhere, but we want to go to Masada, Ein Gedi and do more walking so a jogger would be wonderful. And the girls aren't super great at listening, though they are getting better. The other option is the Maclaren which is compact, but are horrid to push on beat-up sidewalks.
• Carry-on for me with my toiletry case, a book and some magazines and some knitting.
• Carry-on for the girls with toys, books and snacks. (I'm considering three small backpacks for the girls, but they might be too young and it might just add to the hassle.)
• Diaper bag with a change of clothing for the girls.
• Small bag with food. We have a seven hour layover in Paris and we will likely not find kosher food. Plus dairy stuff won't keep cold for 11+ hours so I'll be coming up with some creative non-perishable and packable food ideas.
  

Did you notice what was missing from my list? That's right. This trip Aba is taking care of all of his own stuff. I'm not packing his suitcases, commenting on what he takes, carrying his stuff in my bags. I do all of this for him and he either doesn't listen to my suggestions than complains that he brought too much/the wrong stuff, complains that he forgot stuff, complains that he can't find stuff or complains that I'm taking too long and too many bags. I've told him before that I wasn't going to pack for him and I always give in. I told him when we got home from this trip that he was going to be on his own. This time I mean it. I have four people to pack for and three of them can't help me. I don't have time to add another person to that list.

Now, your job is to hold me to that.

Israel is Calling

So it looks like we'll be heading to Israel in late November-early December. I'm really excited and am already starting to plan what we need. The sad thing is that we have to get 5 seats. That means 10 pieces of luggage and 5 carry-ons, though. I'm not planning on taking that much there, but back...no guarantees. Bwahahahaha!

Now, the real fun is the girls. In all likelyhood we will not have full potty-learnedness (word?) by then. So I'm not going to stress it and am planning on carting dipes. I'll probably add some trainers for when we are around the apartment and will have to get the girls used to the little potty seat that goes on the toilet because I AM NOT lugging a Baby Bjorn potty chair. Though I have room.

Last trip I worked out the times of the flights so that it would coincide with naps and bedtime. FAIL. This time I'm just planning on them being awake the entire trip and bringing a carry-on of toys and books and snacks. I'll be stealing this idea from Melissa at Chasing Cheerios. In fact, I have 8 lovely pencil cases and a page of ideas already.

Now, if anyone has ideas on ways to keep 31-month-olds calm during international flights let me know. Note to self: Hit up Costco for a double pack of Benadryl. I'd also love any tips on conquering jetlag in said toddlers, please share.

Well, I finally got around to changing the frame for the stroller out. (One of the brakes on our Baby Jogger went out so they sent a new frame.) First of all, being only 10 months old, I was kind of hoping for an all new stroller. But I can live. Secondly, there are no instructions on how to take the fabric off the old one much less how to put it back on. I can't tell you how long it took me to figure out that the sunshades needed to be unscrewed. Thirdly, I really love the new frame. They changed the rubber for the handlebar and it seems sturdier. And the buttons to take the rear wheels off have been changed for the better!

First I got the box opened and took out the frame.

Looks a wee bit daunting, doesn't it?


Then I had to take everything off of the old stroller.


It only took me about 10 minutes to figure out I needed to unscrew the sunshades. Then I had to dig around for a Philips screwdriver. Then another as the first one I found was electric with a dead battery.


Finally got everything put back together! Took it out dor a spin and everything works and the brakes are super!

It's 4:30 AM...do you know where you're triplets are?

Mine are wide awake and playing. They get just about back onto a "normal" schedule and then someone wakes her sisters up in the middle of the night and I'm back to square one. Tonight it was Shira who was wavering between "I want Ima" and "I want Aba."
Crawling on her sisters while crying woke up Batya and their playing together woke up Chaya. So we made the best of it. I brought them out to the living room, gave them juice, challah, cheese and banana while uploading some pictures and Ron went to the Netz minyan at the Kotel. When he gets back we'll go out to breakfast.

On our schedule today is just shopping and wandering around Jerusalem. Including a stop at the shouk, a pottery co-op, children's bookstore, Mea Shearim and anywhere else that tickles our fancy.

Last night we took the girls out to the new mall and then walked to the David Citadel Hotel for a light dinner. Chaya and Batya found a nice couple who would give them fries, Chaya practiced her flirty looks with a few different tables and Shira learned that french fries are best as a tool to move ketchup from the dish to her mouth. We did't take the stroller with us and carried all of the girls with Ayelet getting a taste of the Connecta although she is so skinny the straps didn't fit without some improvisation.

All the girls in the pack and play over here. They slept for about 8 hours like this (minus the bottles).




Batya and Ayelet. All the girls were practicing getting soda from dipping a straw into the glass.

Shalom Me'Yerushalayim!
(Hi from Jerusalem!)

We arrived safe and sound and thirty minutes early (!). The girls were pretty good considering the greuling nature of an overseas trip. They really just seemed to want to spread out and play. Chaya and Batya are having a difficult time with the jet lag, but tonight and tomorrow should be close to normal as they went to sleep last night (this morning?) at 12 AM and woke up at 4 AM. I learned with Shira, though, that the secret is a nice long nap (8 hours) the first morning and then a couple of small naps during the day (30 minutes each) and then she sleeps well at night. She also likes the pillows over here. LOL!

So, at 4 AM Friday morning Shira sleeps, Chaya and Batya play and have breakfast, Ayelet (our hostess) attempts to sleep, Ron goes to the Kotel to pray and Ima gets online.

A few pictures from yesterday's visit to The Kotel.






They had a blast there. Shira was imitating the women and walking backwards...when she wasn't trying to quietly sneak away from me. Chaya and Batya were chasing the birds and all the girls were talkign to the women and children who were there. I'm hoping to take some video next visit.

Shabbat Shalom!