Our vacation started with the type of excitement you'd prefer to not start a vacation with. We've known since March that Madeline was going to need surgery for a double hernia repair. She was so brave and did wonderfully!
While there seemed to be chaos all around us, Madeline was the calm in the storm in the recovery area. She listened to music on my ipod and we waited to be given the all clear to get the hell outta there go home!
Once home we sacked out on the couch (it was an early morning) and started to push fluids into her. We watched movies and read new books. Emily and Ashley came to visit for a bit (they stayed the night before and the night of at my parents' house) right when Maddie started to ask for them. After their visit I got Maddie to sleep for a couple hours.While there seemed to be chaos all around us, Madeline was the calm in the storm in the recovery area. She listened to music on my ipod and we waited to be given the all clear to 
Uncle Mike came by to visit on his way home (Aunt Chelle came with us to the hospital and sat with us) but we didn't want to wake her up so we took this picture to show her that he was there.
By the next day she was getting up and walking around like nothing happened. It was a challenge to keep her calm (and from breaking out into dance!). Her sisters returned and all was right in the world. Surgery was on Monday and on Thursday we hit Disneyland for the last time before our summer blockout of our passes. 
Ice Cream on Main Street U.S.A.! I did make Maddie ride in a stroller the entire time and we only went on the train, Small World and the Tiki Room. We also watched the new Celebrate Parade. Maddie was wanting more- but we didn't push it!
One week post-op and you'd never know she went through what she did! We want to say thank you to everyone that sent us a note/email/comment. That came to visit or called. While we know this was a "routine" procedure- it still was our baby that it was happening to! Her follow up appointment today went great and we are officially done with that doctor (we did love him!). She's been cleared to start swimming this weekend! Seaside "Gagoon" here we come!!!!
The program had awards presentations, music and food!
Emily received an award for Reading!
Madeline received the Principal's Award for her class for academic and citizenship excellence- she is so proud of her trophy! We are so proud of her! She is reading at a 4th grade level!!!! WOW!
They sang a really cute song about the woods- Maddie got to be the tree (Ashley is in the back row, opposite corner of Maddie- she was grass).
Emily filled in last minute for a student not there and got to be the nest.
They also sang a song with the 50 states and one about going on a bear hunt. Very cute!
The O'Connors in front of the school mural. We are so proud of our girls and all that they accomplished this year! They have grown so much academically and socially- they never cease to amaze us!
We finished the day off with dinner at Hoff's Hut with Grandpa, Grammie and Aunt Susie. 
14 moms of multiples- 57 kids between all of us (some have more than the triplets!)-on our own in Vegas and we hit the town running from there and had the most amazing weekend! We'd gather as one and then part on to do separate things through out the weekend. The only thing on our agenda- to enjoy each others company and have fun. Mission accomplished! 
Where were all the kids you ask? Our wonderful husbands, and extended families in some cases, all took the reigns at home and held it all together so that we could have this much needed weekend. 
We were sad that 2 of our friends were not able to join us and thought about them all weekend. We hope that our plans next time will be able to have them join us too. Oh yes - there WILL be a next time!!!
Our shirts say, "M.O.M. of Multiples: Ditched the Kids for Vegas" (we weren't too excited about leaving everyone at home now were we?) 
To the ladies that journeyed to Vegas and the 2 that did not, thank you so much for your continued love and support all these years. It was wonderful to finally see some of you face to face, talk without waiting for a delayed answer and laugh out loud without the virtual LOL's. We were brought together by this amazing thing that is having triplets and yet- it is the bonds that have formed as a result that will keep us friends forever!
Last weekend we attended the annual NICU Graduates party at the hospital the girls were born at. These doctors and nurses hold a special place in our heart and we love going to visit them! While the girls were born almost to term (35 weeks!) they were still early and had to spend some time in the NICU- Emily and Maddie stayed for 3 weeks and Ashley for 5 weeks. We are VERY fortunate that none of our girls needed any serious medical intervention when they were born. They just had to learn how to eat and to grow.