Over the past few posts, I’ve mentioned my travels to Riverside, CA where I stayed with one of my good friends, Jenny and her husband Simon, to help her take care of her four kiddies and make sure she’s still sane.  All I can say is her whole family is PRECIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!

I met Jenny, one of my dearest photography sisters, during our Scott Robert & CM Leung Journey to China Workshop.  As she was one of the girls who courageously came onto this trip not knowing anyone, it was fate that we became roomies (actually, it was Zabrina).  I was her roommate in both Shanghai and Beijing, and we stayed in China for several days after our workshop.  As I’m going through the memories we had as a group – Zabrina, Jeremy, David, Riz, Darrell, Tara, Chyna, Mindy, Hermes, and many more from Hong Kong (Chung, Sam, Caroline, Anna, Parry, etc) – as much energy I would like to exude into how fun and exciting our China trip was, I don’t think words can really describe it –

But um… enough reminiscing because this post really isn’t about China.  But when you’re debating on attending a workshop with Scott, one thing is true – you’ve only known some your workshop friends for a week, but you become so close to each other like you’ve known each other for a lifetime.  You can read more about my escapades on my two blog posts here and here.  AND our making of the Beijing Beauty Shot!!

Curtis, my boyfriend, and I were initially going to visit her Labor Day weekend (last year).  Unfortunately, we didn’t, because a few days before, on September 1, 2011, I got a text message from her saying “I had my babies”.  It was only a few months after she revealed she was 4 or 5 months pregnant and she was having her second “baby”.  I remember receiving the text while I was driving to Target picking up more supplies for her diaper cake, asking her in disbelief over the phone 2-3 times, “Wait, you had THREE?!”

I was thinking, “OMG” seriously, three?  Curtis and I were probably not going to visit her for a while, and this diaper cake was definitely not going to be hand delivered anymore.  Instead, USPS hand delivered it to them.  Thanks USPS!

Her babies were in the NICU for quite some time (I think it was two months?).  After mommies carry their babies for 9 (more or less) months, and as with any mother and father, I’m sure it’s a really hard and tough time for both parents not being able to come home from the hospital with your own babies.  Jenny and Simon went to the hospital to visit their babies every single day while their son, Issac was in daycare/preschool.  Not until they came home, the joyous pictures started coming up of these three precious babies.

Jenny’s Triplets, taken by jennyshung.com

I knew that Jenny’s hands were full and her mommy instincts were exuded and tired.  I definitely wanted to come visit her to help out, so I made a trip down to Southern California at the beginning of March (right after WPPI and before Hawaii) to help Jenny take care of her, Issac, and the babies.  It was an extended weekend, full of great food – Jenny’s delicious home cooked meals, Panda Express, lots of milk for the babies, and juicy pomelo’s!  I present to you with Hudson, Anna, and Victoria:

We took a walk to pick up Issac from school.

All buckled up and ready to go! Where are we going?

Visiting the Doctor’s for shots!!!

Every morning and evening, Mommy enriches Issac with learning the States of America

Also, Mommy enriches Issac with flashcards… “What is this, Issac?”  Issac – “yogurt”

A trip to Church

Mmm! Issac helping out peeling Pomelos!

A few shots from our timelapse – see link and video below!!!

A timelapse of a day in the life of Jenny + Simon (from 5am to 10pm)

You can view it full screen here:  https://vimeo.com/39382009

All I can say is that these three are a BUNDLE OF JOY!!!

Jenny and Simon have their triplets on a schedule, they do feedings every 3 hours, naptimes inbetween and sleep from 8pm to morning.  As Simon is at work for the entire day, Jenny spends her days feeding, pumping, feeding, playing, and inbetween cleans, and maybe sneaks in a nap.  Naptime for the three is from 1-3, Jenny’s favorite time of the day.  It’s when the entire house is completely silent and full of zen.  She only has time to leave the house when there’s a doctor’s visit, picks up Issac, or heads out to the grocery store – WINCO!  Aside from that, she has given up a lot of “me” time, and the babies and Issac have consumed her life into “their” time.

Jenny and Simon are warriors, and I definitely commend them for staying strong.  These four, Issac, Victoria, Anna, and Hudson are a blessing to them and their family.  I remember the day when Jenny said she wanted 9 kids.  NINE.  I think they’ve changed their mind since then.  With all that, I give parents a lot of “props” for raising their children.  It’s not easy with one, let alone FOUR at the same time.  It’s also harder when help (grandpa and grandma) lives far away.  As both time consuming, and energy sucking, they are a life changing experience for the greater good.  As all mommies and daddies will say, “your life will change the moment you hold them in your arms“.  And it’s a moment a parent will never forget.  What was it like holding your first, second, third baby?  I encourage you to share your experiences by commenting below!

As I don’t have my own yet, I will sometime in the future.  This weekend was definitely my “Shung Baby Boot Camp” and I am truely thankful for being able to have the time to visit.  After coming home after a few days, it was a little saddening not being able to wake up, see Jenny, Simon, Issac, and hold the babies!!  But, this is just the first visit out of many!

Thank you, Jenny & Simon for a great weekend, I admire your strength and will to keep your family awesome!  Thank you for warmly opening up your home and sharing your time with me!