Holiday Fun

Marleigh, Brooke and Sophia

Daddy and his girls

Brooke, Marleigh and Sophia

Brooke, Sophia and Marleigh

What a busy time for us! Happy times but busy times. The girls had a doctor appt. and they are just HUGE! Brooke is 13lbs, 13.5oz; Marleigh is 15lbs, 1oz; and Sophia is 15lbs,7oz (which she carries in her thighs!!!). We usually carry them around in our arms or the stroller but for dr. appts we use the car seats and boy were they heavy, plus we haven't worked out in a LONG time.

Brooke has her helmet and is doing great with it on all day and night. Now Sophia may need an eye patch to correct her left eye from crossing. We will have to find something for Marleigh! For Halloween we can have a pirate and a skateboarder but Marleigh's costume has yet to be medically determined- LOL. Thank goodness all the issues with the girls are nothing serious and can all be easily corrected.

The feeding is going wonderfully and the table is big help. Sophia is a BIG eater and sits with her mouth open and ready. The other day she was in the middle, leaning forward and busy eating while Brooke and Marleigh were laughing at each other. They are really getting cute and doing this stuff more often.

The trip to see Santa was a hoot. We went to Frontenac thinking it would be less crowded but since Santa is soooo popular everyone was there today! We waited a long time in line but of course seeing him was worth it. Sophia was crying and Santa just kept singing her name trying to help her. Marleigh's hat fell over her eyes and Brooke was mesmerized by him. After we got them all settled on his lap I turned around and saw a crowd of shoppers watching and commenting. This will be our life- constant interaction with complete strangers asking all sorts of questions. We are so thrilled with our girls that we don't mind but sometimes it's awkward.

Rough day so off to bed for hopefully a full night of uninterrupted sleep.

Hello again, are you out there????

At our special feeding table 11-30-10

Marleigh, 6 months old 11-25-10

Sophia 6 months old, 11-25-10

Brooke 6 months old, 11-25-10

Is anyone still checking this to see if I have time to post? I doubt it but here goes.

It's been a very tough 3 weeks. We lost our night help which was so essential and then my dad's appendix burst and my mom has been nursing him back to health so there went my day help. So poor, poor Julie had to do it all alone. Dave of course helped as much as he could when he came home at night but night is about a 4 person job and I was spent after doing the middle of the night and all day. I don't want to minimize Dave's help but we realized it wasn't enough. He came home every night and helped when we had help over night and during the day. In the past month we have started solid food, worked on going to bed un-swaddled and awake, sleeping through the night and then we all got sick. Oh, and we hosted Thanksgiving this year but that was a blast and the girls had plenty of arms to hold them and I got quite a break that day. So, there are my excuses for not entertaining you all with our shennigans. Here's the latest:

They are all rolling over and working to get toys out of their reach and wanting to sit up. Brooke is up on her elbows whenever she is not on her belly. We have placed bets on who will crawl first. I think it's Sophia because she does everything first but Brooke is going to give her a run for her money, or my money! Brooke is a determined little love and has begun scooting in a circle on her tummy to acquire all the toys she can. Marleigh is not even in the race- she is our... observant child (read lazy). She just hangs out and watches her sisters laughing. She plays with toys and rolls but really is only interested in people, music and books. She is NOT interested in eating solid food! I have been "presenting" it for a month and she won't open the gate. Brooke and Sophia are ready to start eating cereal twice a day and begin on vegetables but Mars is just holding out.

Brooke is getting a helmet next week to fix her head. The back is completely flat, it will not effect her vision or chewing but it might effect her later in life with wanting to pop on a baseball cap or get her hair wet around others. It's pretty darn noticeable right now. She will wear it 22 hours a day for about 6 months. Here come the good times- they say it doesn't bother them but we will just see about that!

They of course are not napping well so I have to go but enjoy the pics and I'll put more up later of Brooke in her helmet.

Marleigh; 13lbs

Sophia; 13lbs

Brooke; 12lbs

The Red Hot Chili Peppers

Sophia, Brooke and Marleigh

5 months old, Oct. 25th

Happy Halloween to everyone! This year is all about us, the adults, having fun with the babies. Maybe even next year I'll get to choose their costumes but after that it will be all their show. It's been quite hard to catch all three smiling but thanks to my mom making antics and singing, they all smiled for this group pic. Marleigh always smiles and her whole body smiles with her- her arms and legs curl up and join in the celebration!! Sophia smiles the most when we sing her special song or when she is held up by our faces. Brooke smiles and laughs when she is kissed on her cheeks and nose.

We are part of a neighborhood playgroup and we finally made it to someone else's house. We had it at our house twice since it's hard to get my girls somewhere at 4pm. Brooke absolutely loved being somewhere new and watching all the big kids (1 and 2 years old) run around. Sophia played nicely with her toys but Marleigh was slightly fussy. She was only happy when held which surprised me since she seems like the smiley party girl. It's exciting to already be hanging out with the kids my girls will start school with in 5 years.

We are trying to do more with the girls which has been good for us too. We took them to the park for Elle's senior pics and had their pics taken too; they were only fairly cooperative. We have also been to the park to meet our friends and their kids, running errands etc. It's getting harder to get out and go for walks or to run errands since they tend to fall asleep while riding along and then mess up their nap time which then messes up the entire day!

Have a wonderful Halloween!!!

Marleigh in the jumperoo

Brooke, the future President

Sophia looking precious!!!


OK, lovely, wonderful, precious babies.... but they won't hardly sleep during the day! I will try to continue to post pics of them but it is getting harder. Hopefully I will get time to write about their personalities because those are blossoming too. It's almost always fun even though it's a lot of work and there are still more good days than bad days.

Thanks for checking in and hopefully I'll get some Halloween pics up soon.

3 months old

Elle's first day of Senior Year!!

A picnic on a beautiful day

Brooke, 3 months old

Sophia, 3 months old

Marleigh, 3 months old

Hooray, we have made it to 3 months and things just keep getting better. We discovered that Brooke has been suffering from acid reflux and is now a changed baby since we started her on the medicine. She can actually enjoy her awake time without screaming and sleeps much better too.

The girls are all around 10lbs and doing so well. The smiles we get are just amazing and they are starting to "talk" and coo. They sleep wonderfully at night, waking only slightly to take their bottles and then right back to sleep. They sleep a total of 10-12 hours. I have just started waking them in the morning so they don't sleep the day away and also to establish a nap routine. The nap stuff is going OK, it's only been 2 days so far but going well. I am trying to get them to sleep in their cribs for 2 naps/day. They all did great from 11-1 and now at 3:30 I have 2 in swings and one possibly waking in her crib.

Their personalities are starting to show also. What a hoot these girls are! Sophia is good as gold and just smiles and is so content. When she does cry her little lower lip comes out and she makes the most pitiful pouty face. You can't help but try to make her world all better.

Marleigh is our party girl. Her smiles are just huge and she is the last to fall asleep at night and wake in the morning.

Brooke is our thougthful little angel. She is smiling more now that we have fixed her acid reflux and she make the cutest expressions. She always seems to have something going through her mind and it shows all over her face- definitely no poker games in her future. We also discovered that Brooke looks just like the little elf in the Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, the elf that wants to be a dentist. Now we narrate all her expressions to go with her desire to become a dentist.

Well, the new nap schedule worked pretty good. The girls were a lot less fussy in the evening and stayed awake for a very long walk. I hope tomorrow is as good as today!

We are getting out lots now too. I have mastered leaving the house with 3 babies and enjoy going to the park for walks. We try to walk our neighborhood everyday but it's great for me to get out, go through a drive-thru and then for a walk. I don't do the mall much since we will get stopped so often and people can't keep their hands to themselves. I don't know what I'll do this winter when it's cold and flu season and I can't get out.

New Schedule!

We had another doctor visit on Saturday and received a glowing report of our babies. They are barely considered preemie at this point. Here are their weights:

Brooke: 9lbs

Marleigh: 9lbs, 13.5oz

Sophia: 10lbs, 1oz

They are in the 10-15% range for their age of almost 11 weeks and in the 75% range for their adjusted age, which is 6 weeks old. With this weight gain for them and their wonderful eating habits they are now allowed to sleep 6-8 hours at night between feedings. Hallelujah! We have had 3 nights of this and it's starting to work out ok. They aren't ready for a full 8 hours but it's on the horizon and I'm just happy with 6 hours at this point. On top of all that wonderfulness, the girls are terrific at sleeping at night. They all settle down by 11pm and stir once for a bottle and then continue on with their very, very restful sleep. They take the bottle and hardly open an eye, even during the diaper change! They are miraculous little loves and we appreciate all they are doing to make our lives with triplets easy.

It just doesn't seem right to say "triplets" and "easy in the same sentence but these are some wonderful girls. Their temperament is good, all varying degrees of fussiness but nothing like what it could be! Brooke cries the most but she is a pound lighter and has gotten better with each pound she gains. Marleigh is just a smiley, happy fat love and Sophia is good as gold. She just whines gently when she is messy or needs a bottle.

The picture is of my BIG outing, which was made possible by Jill and Gayle. It was a lovely trip to the mall in which I was able to get a scone, enjoy eating it and purchase some shoes. I love shoes even more now since they look good no matter what the rest of my looks like. I had a wonderful visit with Gayle and Jill who spent 2 days taking care of me and the babies. One day was the mall and another day I got a nap! Love those impromptu naps. What would I do without my friends to take care of everything???? Thanks guys!

As for further help, it's welcome but our during the day is now erratic and depends on when they feed at night, then we move the first 2 feedings of the day to a 3 hour schedule and work towards a 4 hour schedule as the day ends. There really is no way to schedule anyone to come and help but so far it doesn't seem as desperate of a situation now that I am getting some more sleep. Anyone is welcome to call and come by for a visit, possible feeding or just to hold a baby- just give me a call and see where we are at during the day.

How in the world can these gorgeous angels cause all the mayhem in the next few photos?????

Projectile Poop!! On the walls, drapes, dripping on the carpet - an absolute mess beyond words.

Here is the chart to track what I am giving each girl in each of their bottles.

A look in our fridge with a day's worth of bottles waiting for the "angels".

What a crazy life these babies are giving us right now! Some of the things that are helping to keep us sane are the help and the supplies that we have on hand. It's been so wonderful to have the basement full of diapers and wipes of all sizes ready for the babies at anytime. No midnight runs to the grocery store for those- just a quick trip downstairs to grab some more. Thanks to all that gave us diapers at the baby shower, it was a great idea and really has been a HUGE help, well, when they use the diapers instead of using the walls, changing table and drapes like the picture shows!!!

We have still had a ton of helpers with the feedings and it has been great for me. I really appreciate all the time and energy everyone is giving us to help hold and feed our precious angels. They are good and sweet, there is just so many of them!!! I have been able to nap and even leave the house once or twice, both are the two things I need most to stay sane. Dave appreciates all the help that keeps me sane too. I have had 2 major meltdowns; one at 3am and the other for a whole day of me fussing. I needed sleep both times and eventually got it but not before being a complete jerk. I got a nap today and I woke up so happy I could have cried!!! What a treat in the middle of the week to have Gayle and Jill here so I could sleep. I usually only nap on the weekends when Dave and I take turns catching up on sleep so a mid-week nap was wonderful.

We are planning an outing with all three babies on Friday morning too. Gayle, Jill and I and the three little angels. I still need to decide where to go with them, I am thinking of going to a baby store to get one of those body wraps that straps the baby to your body so you are hands free. Brooke seems to miss having the constant contact of her sisters and now wants to be held all day long. She had a good day yesterday where she played under the playgym, had a bath and then watched her mobile until she fell asleep. It was a first and boy was I happy!! She usually wants to be held until she falls asleep and then you run the risk when you put her down.

Yesterday Sophia rolled over!!! She is amazing- completely content at all times unless she is hungry or messy. She responds well to all we do and tummy time was no exception. She lifted her head and her shoulders and after a few minutes of that she became fussy and wound up rolling over! She surprised herself and all of us.

Marleigh just hangs out- she just lays there during tummy time and will ocassionally lift her head slightly and turn it but she isn't really interested in the whole workout thing. Will she ever lose all that baby fat??????

Today Brooke cooperated with tummy time, lifting and turning her head. Yesterday she only lifted her tush as if to say, "kiss this. I'm not doing your stupid tummy time!" We just cracked up at her. Sophia rolled over, Marleigh just laid there and Brooke was obstinate.

Well, it's August 4th and I'm finally ready to post! See you next time.

Sophia, Marleigh, Brooke, Elle, Brittany and Mary Kate having tummy time!

Sophia, Marleigh and Brooke- they inspired the older girls to try a tummy time!

Marleigh

Sophia

Brooke

Well, the girls are 8 weeks old today and what a bunch of fun we have been having. They are very sweet and have good dispositions. They only fuss when there is a problem and those range from hunger, dirty diapers or just needing some help getting to sleep. A pacifier and a little walk around usually does the trick to get them settled. It has been so much fun getting to know them and learn their personalities. Brooke is the most vocal- whether it's screaming or her version of "talking" she is most always is expressing herself. She does this darling thing when she wants attention- she lets out a little yell, not a scream, just a loud yell as if to say, "Hey! Don't forget you left me in this swing!" If you leave her too long to "yell" it will turn into a full blown scream which sounds like a cat screaming. Good thing we like cats!!!!

Marleigh seems to be the most laid back baby of the three. She generally eats and sleeps. Sophia seems to be the most active right now. She is content once she is fed and plays on the floor for up to an hour without a peep. All of this is subject to change and I have a feeling that they will all switch and keep us on our toes.

We have been busy with switching bottles around constantly! We keep trying new things to find what works the best. The girls started on the hospital bottles and then we moved the the Dr. Brown's bottles and now we are using a combo of the two for the second time. I am pumping to make milk for the girls and we are giving them a separate bottle of that to ensure they get all the good stuff and then the bottle of formula comes next.

OK, I have been gone from this for about 2 or 3 days and we have switched bottles AGAIN!!! We are now using the Dr. Brown's only and just dealing with it if they don't finish the bottle and they waste all my hard work. Things are insane around here with trying to find just the right combo or method to feed them. It seems like every time someone comes to help that I have a "new and improved" system but in the end it all comes back to those silly, expensive bottles really work to save the girls from excessive gas and reflux. Our dishwasher does NOT properly clean the bottles and their parts so it's also back to hand washing 5 things per bottle, and that's 18 bottles a day!!!! No wonder I have to take breaks from this blog- I have to make everyone crazy with the feedings and also wash those ridiculous things!!!

The help we are receiving is beyond amazing and we still can't believe it when people say that they had been looking forward to coming over- REALLY???????? They couldn't possibly be more excited to be here than I am to have them here- it is an enormous help to me to have the company and assistance with even one diaper or bottle. I had a day with NO help and it was almost impossible! They girls were fussy, fussier than they had been, and I think it was due to the bottles nonsense. Elle and I were just running around like crazy with a baby in our hands all day. The good thing is that most days are pretty manageable- that one really knocked me out!

We are getting help other ways too: cookies and an awesome spread sheet to track the girls formula intake that averages it out for me! THANKS STACEY!!!!

When I go to the doctor it's nice to know the average amount that the girls are taking and since they are completely inconsistent it does take averaging. Now I just plug in the amount taken and it averages each feeding quickly and painlessly. I had wanted to make a spreadsheet but couldn't find the time- it's 3:57am right now, my only truly free time to do anything.

Another helpful things is a group is getting together to watch the girls so Dave and I can go out for an evening. I think we are going out the front and sneaking back in to go upstairs and sleep. We actually will probably go out for a little while but for both of us to sleep and miss one feeding on the weekend at night is too good to pass up! We are looking forward to our time out alone and it will take about 3 or 4 people to keep this show running. So thanks to those who are considering coming over to watch the girls on the 30th!!

The girls have really begun to notice things and are quick to stop crying when we hold them which is sweet but annoying since they are quick to cry if we set them down. They still have some gas issues and being held helps so we just juggle them around to try to keep everyone content. They have been noticing the mobiles on the crib and on the swing and having some playtime on the floor with a playgym.

The feeding times have gone by the wayside- at least the part where we try to go in order: Brooke, Marleigh, Sophia. Now we feed whoever is screaming first and try, try , try to hold the others off best we can. Today it was quiet enough to feed them one at a time and I had a minute to really look around and appreciate all that I have. We are so lucky to have the girls be so healthy and then to also have the space for them and all their stuff, enough diapers and formula and friends and family to help us manage all of this. And you won't believe it, but I actually started to cry little tears of joy. Yes, that's right, me of all people crying. Some friends came by over the weekend and gave us a little caterpillar frame with a space for 3 photos- and I cried! UGH- thanks hormones. I don't think they knew exactly what to do but I was just so thrilled to see a space for each girls little picture. Things in threes make me cry now. I'm crying while I type too- I am a mess!!!!! But it's all happy tears, I haven't cried once from sadness or being overwhelmed, only happy.

I am excited that they girls are growing and progressing too- Brooke is still in the Target newborn outfits but Marleigh and Sophia have grown out of them. They are in newborn but Target brand runs small so Brooke has cornered the market on those cute clothes. They are doing "tummy time" when it allows and Brooke just hates it and lays there. She is strong and has some head control when you hold her but she doesn't like being forced into it on the floor. Marleigh and Sophia are fine with it and will lift and turn their heads sometimes. We only do it for about 5 minutes and today they all just laid there- no movement at all. They did play when "flipped over" for about 30 minutes. Temperamental little loves!!!

From now on I will post the day and time that I start and finish a post- this one has taken about 4 days and it's 4am. I have to start and stop so much that I could be typing the same thing over and over.

For those of you in town, feel free to call me if you want to stop by to see the girls and hold or feed them. Or if you are in town call and stop by, we are pretty open to visitors and just need to keep small children away for about 2 more weeks.

Post finished: 7-23-10 at 4:22 am

Marleigh

Their playtime together

Sophia

Brooke with her mohawk

Elle & Marleigh at Target

What a weekend! The girls had a pretty good week but then the reflux kicked in on Marleigh and Sophia and things have been... LOUD. Poor little things have a hard time eating and then are starving a few hours later. We have been trying lots of different things to help, switching bottles, positions etc. but now have a prescription for Pepcid for infants and hopefully that will help within a week.

We had another challenge on Friday, take all three- DURING a feeding time to the hospital for hip ultrasounds to check for dysplasia. Dysplasia is common in breech babies ( marleigh and sophia) and in girls, and in multiples and it's when the the thigh bone is not growing properly in the socket (for the most part, I'm sure there is a more techinical med explaination but I'm not going there). The ultrasound went great and no one needs a harness to correct a problem which is wonderful since the baby would be in the harness for 23 hours a day for 6 to 12 weeks. YIKES! We have dodged another health concern. We are so very lucky that our issues with the girls are still just the common gas and reflux that lots of babies must endure.

Our nighttime help has been invaluable. That allows me to feel like a normal person instead of a night owl. I can't believe what a difference it makes to get nighttime sleep and be able to do things during the day. I truly didn't mind for the first month but now, 6+ weeks into this venture, it's a complete necessity! I NEED to get some rest at night to be able to really function during the day and also to be able to get out to feel normal. Even if I slept all day and stayed up all night I would never really get a break out of the house since I couldn't leave at 2am for groceries or to visit with friends. So I am thrilled to have the help at night and then all the wonderful people during the day keep me going with breaking up the monotony of the feedings. The Care Calendar is working out great, being able to access that and see who is on their way over to help is amazing and even if someone comes and feeds 1 out of 3 babies, it's a HUGE help.

Speaking of help- our sister in law, Jan, is coming back!!! The girls didn't run her off for long and she is headed back this way, could already be here depending on when I actually finish this post :). I almost cried with joy when I heard she would be back this week. I have readily accepted that I can't do much other than keep things rolling here at home and it's only for a short time ( a few months) until things ease up even more with the feedings but getting out is AMAZING!! Now, with Jan coming I can confidently sit at the Muny on Tuesday night and not worry about how I will make it through the next day on such little sleep. And I can find a day to go up to work and show off one of my girls. I say "work" like I'm going back but I am 'semi-retired' for now. I do believe I have a job but my paycheck is quite different. I know Jan and her husband read this blog so I hope it doesn't pressure her to be here, well, after this week that is!!!!!

Tonight we ventured out to Target, me and 2 of my girls: Elle and Marleigh. Marleigh was awake and somewhat fussy so we grabbed her and ran our errands. She did much better being wheeled around Target than she would have done at home, even the babies need a break to get out. Elle is getting accustomed to taking a baby in and out of a car seat and once she learns infant CPR we will let her take a baby out to show off too.

The girls are starting to find their hands to their mouth and even though it was involuntary, Brooke looked right up at me and smiled the other day. It hasn't happened since but boy does it make it all worth it to know it's coming... those sweet little smiles and acknowledgements.

Elle is still doing well with all of this craziness that is her sisters. She said the other day that she has the joy of babies without the shame of teen pregnancy! I love that one, she is definitely learning how intense a baby can be, times three. I think having the three really drives the message home and even her friends are learning pretty quick that there is no need to rush life.

5.5 weeks old

Stroller Ride!

I see you!!!!!

My girls, Sophia in front, Brooke and Marleigh in back, and Elle

Playtime while switching to the 4 hour feedings, everyone awake!!!

My 20 minutes of peace

We had another check up at the doctor on Sat. and things are going really well. Brooke now weighs 6lbs 15oz, Marleigh is 7lbs, 15.5oz and Sophia is 7lbs, 13oz. These are wonderful weights and we are thrilled to now be moving to a 4 hour feeding schedule. The idea of the 4 hour schedule is much better than the transition!!! We were so exicted until about 11pm when they normally eat and they were ALL losing it!!! I had them content for about 2o minutes all swaddled and hanging out together but then as they seemed OK and I put them in their bassinets all hell broke loose. Sophia was in the swing and doing Ok and Marleigh was in a bassinet that I wheeled around the house as I held Brooke who wailed the entire time!!!! It was a LONG night but we survived and are ready for a new day.

We have enjoyed our walks during the nice weather we had last week and it was my one chance to leave the house. Other than my walks I hadn't left the house for 5 days- I was fairly fussy myself by Friday but luckily I had an allergic reaction to my penecillin and got to go to the doctor. Woo Hoo!

Oh, and Thursday night was a doozie too. After a wonderful evening of help (with the babies, dinner and a cleaning lady) I was walking Sophia who was quite fussy and I noticed blue lights flashing outside my house. Hooray! Some action at 1am!!! As I walked to the window I wondered what the "jerk" did to get pulled over in front of my house... the jerk was my daughter! The car had a brake light out and little did we know, before 1am on July 1st, that our plates expired in June. UGH!!!!! Time to pull out the triplet card. I ran outside with one baby in tow and explained that I had sent Elle to the store for our groceries at 12am to give her a break from helping with our TRIPLET babies. Of course the sympathy ensued and no tickets were given. At least these babies are useful for something other than keeping Pampers and Similac in business. Also, if any of you happen upon diaper coupons or Similac coupons I would really appreciate having those.

The dinners have been so wonderful and the help I received from friends last week was a lifesaver. I plan to still request some help, everyone seems to really want to come over and hold these babies so I'm going to let them!!! With the four hour schedule it won't be as hectic for me during the day but the help and just having company in the house is very much welcomed.

Something I find amazing is Elle and her friends. When I was a teenager we generally avoided the houses where the parents were not only asleep but hopefully not even home and of course we would never go hang out with a bunch of babies. Our house is full of teens around the clock! And they HELP! They wash up, put on a smock/scrubs and grab whoever is crying at the time if my hands are full. Who does that????? I think I have some sort of legal obligation to that but these kids could be out LIVING, instead they are here stopping their movie or Wii game and truly helping. One friend even made a beautiful CD of music to play while holding the babies- full of songs about daughters, love and stuff. Maybe this generation will be alright after all. I did see two of them texting each other in the same room instead of talking though...

I think of all these things I want to post in the blog while I'm feeding the kids but by the time I get to the computer I'm blank! Maybe now I will have more time to keep it up with my extra hour between each feeding. I will post more as I find the time! Thanks for the food, help and most of all the prayers. Our babies are so healthy (their lungs are FINE, we can make an audio if you'd like) that I have time to crab about things that don't matter, like what's wrong with my body... why do I look like I am 5 months pregnant and how long will it last???? I know I look better than before- it probably couldn't get worse but it is annoying.

Call anytime, I love to catch up with people and have 1 1/2 hours to chat while feeding the girls. Other than that I forget that I can make out going calls too. My brain is fried after the feedings.

One Month Old!!!

Sophia

Marleigh

Brooke

Oh Joy! The girls are one month old and growing like crazy! Brooke is now 6lbs and Marleigh and Sophia are each 7lbs. Sophia is projected to be bigger than Marleigh by the next weigh-in on July 3rd since she has consistently taken all of her bottle at feedings. Marleigh and Brooke have not been as cooperative with that- makes life fun! They are all growing into the newborn clothes but Brooke does tend to swim in them.

We had WONDERFUL help this week. Our sister-in-law, Jan, came from Kansas City to stay with us and it allowed me to get the sleep I needed and also accomplish the birth announcements and also go visit my friends at work. It was so nice to be able to do things I have been wanting to do and feel confident that the girls were not only been well taken care of but oh so very loved! Our night nurse was also on vacation this week so we really would have been in trouble without having Jan to help us. She enjoyed her time with the girls and wants to come back again if we will have her- OF COURSE!!!!

We will be able to have our friends come over to help with feedings now that the girls are at their 40 week due date and doing so well with their weight gain. We still have to be extremely cautious with them and the germ factor but at least we can accept the help that has been offered so generously. I am working on having some instructions written up, despite my doing this every three hours repeatedly daily I still can't sit down and remember all the things in order. I suppose I'm a little worn out from the past 3+ weeks of this schedule. I will be posting another Care Calendar for "childcare" when I have everything set up. We (me, Elle and my mom) will always be here to help train anyone that wants to help and I will be home while our helpers are here. Having others come into feed the girls will help me to continue to pump- so far that's the only thing in my schedule that I can let go. I have to make the bottles and clean them but I can always stop pumping but I really want to continue for the girls.

We have gone for 2 walks around the neighborhood. We walked out of the house the first night and made it across the street before we were stopped by a "crowd" for about 10 minutes. We used the double stroller since the triple stroller has actual seats which are too much for our ladies. The double stroller seats recline and are perfect for the girls. On my walk by myself the next morning I put Brooke and Sophia in one seat and then Marleigh up front on her own and had a lovely walk with our neighbor. Next week is going to be gorgeous weather and I plan to walk daily after the 8am feeding.

We already have some hurdles behind us- sudden need for new bottles and the shortage of preemie diapers. The bottles continue to stink since they have several parts- not the super easy drop in liners that I registered for! I will get to use those soon, I hope when the girls move to a regular nipple rather than the preemie flow we need right now. Marleigh and Sophia with all their poundage are in newborn diapers which are plentiful in our basement stock and available at every store that sells diapers. Now Brooke has about 6 packs that she can use all to herself but I imagine she will be growing out of those soon too but no more emergency runs to several stores looking for the preemie size diapers.

That made me think the other day, "this too shall pass". It's so true, all the little stuff that tends to throw us off passes quickly and so will all these crazy feedings. But, all the good stuff passes too. The sweet tender way they generally sleep after each bottle, the involuntary smiles while they sleep, and their dependence on us - all of that will pass to and be replaced by something wonderful but different. As busy and tiring as some of this schedule is, we love and are amazed each day by these tiny miracles that continue to thrive and grow. This one month has passed quickly and so will the next.

A sad note- Dave is selling the boat, possibly to the family on the driveway right now! I can't believe how much I am missing that boat already. It makes sense to not have the insurance and storage fees for several years but it's just the most beautiful boat and has brought us such fun over the years. We can barely make it to the doctor's office (10 minutes away) between the feeding schedule so there is no way to take the boat out and being gone from them for an entire day seems like a lot right now- it would take a village to keep their schedule up. We will look forward to buying another boat in the next few years and teaching the girls to ski.

Elle and Brooke

Sleepy Sophia

"Holding" her own bottle- good job Brooke!!

BBQ-ing out on the patio with the girls

Brooke and Marleigh after bath night, it's Sophia's turn next.

Here are some new pictures, a peek in our new lives. Bath night is pretty crazy- babies everywhere! We work the bath time into the feeding schedule at 5pm which just wears us all out! They are so young that even a bath will throw off their night enough to lose a good feeding session. The more they are handled the worse they feed- that will all change as time goes on but for now we take care of business and put them back. That is probably the hardest part, knowing you should put them down but wanting to keep holding them.

We went to the pediatrcian on Saturday and boy was that an ordeal. We had to feed everyone a little early and then pack up and be there by 12:15pm. We started at 10:45am and were still about 5 minutes late to the dr. office. These babies are SMART! They know when you lay down and are completely worn out and they spit out their binky and begin to wail. They KNEW we had an appointment so no one would take their bottle so we could move on. We even had Elle home that morning helping us and we were still late! The office visit was wonderful, our doctor is amazing and very happy with how well the girls are doing. The doctors office has an actual manual for us to refer to as needed! I love that- I will take all the help I can get. We will go on Saturdays after hours to avoid being around other potentially sick children- they are very accomodating and it really helps that Dave doesn't have to rearrange his work to go with me.

Marleigh now weighs almost 6lbs, Sophia only a few ounces behind and Brooke is near 5lbs. I had such visions of all of them in the darling outfits everyone gave them and taking pictures but Brooke is still in the preemie clothes and Marleigh and Sophia are in the newborn sizes. The newborn are slightly large but the preemie sleepers are way too small for our "big" girls. It will be a while before they all wear the same size.

We have tons of formula on the way from the supplier- these companies love triplets as much as we do! We do keep running out of diapers and only a few places sell the preemie size. I just bought out Walmart today of the Pampers. The Pampers preemie are smaller than the Huggies preemie and tend to fit our Brooke better. We found out the hard way- the messy, tons of laundry way!!!!

I have had help during the day from my mom and sometimes Elle and now at night I have a nurse that does one feeding and of course Elle helps out too since she doesn't keep normal hours. I will be able to have more help from others soon. I have bought some scrubs for people to wear- a suggestion from the NICU nurses- to keep everyone clean. Perfumes, pet hair, smoke etc. effects the girls so by popping scrubs over the clothes takes care of all of that. Maybe it sounds crazy asking people to wear scrubs to hold and feed the girls but if it keeps them healthy and problem free it's worth it to me. Plus, I'll do whatever I have to do to have some extra hands around here whenever possible- hopefully no one will be offended!

I have been able to get out to run errands and even one night to have some fun. Elle and I had dinner together and then went to a friends' awesome new condo. It was fun to be out without a worry, babies all safe with Daddy. Elle and I miss hanging out together, now we just hang together- inside with the girls.

Thanks to all that have been bringing dinners by in the evening. It was hard for us to break down and accept all the offers of dinner but since we couldn't have help with the feedings, I decided that ready to eat meals would be just as nice. It has been a HUGE help and if you didn't receive an email about helping us out with dinner it just means you have already done too much for us and we just can't handle anymore generosity! Everyone has been so wonderful with their time and wonderful cooking and it truly has made our evenings much more enjoyable. Dave and I have even had time to sit and catch up before I go off to bed.

Dave is just the best dad. He comes home, washes up and dives right in to whatever we are doing, feeding, bath, cooking etc. He is a natural and doesn't mind getting up before work to do the 5am feeding. It will be a wonderful Father's Day with his 4 daughters- I remember back 5 years ago, the day after our wedding was Father's Day and Elle presented him with a card and gift and he was blown away. We are planning something special again for him- Cardinal related as uusal.

We are HOME!!!

A view inside our car

Sophia and Marleigh together again

Brooke all clean after bathtime

Leaving the hospital with our girls!!!!

Well, it's June...4th, I had to check the date! The girls have been home since June first at 5pm, just in time for their 5pm feeding. It was quite a busy time since everything we needed was in bags from the hospital but we got it done- the three of us against the three of them and WE won!! Well, at that feeding at least. The first night was sheer adrenaline. The next night was rough and last night was pretty good. Our babies were scheduled during their week in the NICU so they just stay on that and we are OK- not great but OK. Last night our Miss Marleigh stayed up rooting around from her 8pm feeding all the way till the 11pm feeding. I wound up feeding both Marleigh and Brooke (who always eats first) at the same time. Everyone behaved after that and I was able to sleep between the feedings.

The schedule is wonderful to have but still rough. We feed every 3 hours and it takes about an hour and a half to get through all three girls, leaving about an hour and a half to check up on things around the house or sleep. This is why I haven't been able to update my blog- sleep is my main goal at all times. I am doing fine now only because I had my mom's help this afternoon and she had brought dinner so I know we don't have to worry about that. Dave is back to work for a few hours each day. The feedings only require one person but it's nice to have someone available to put a binky back in or get the next lady ready to be fed. Dave will be home for the 5pm feeding time and since it might be bath night I will head to bed after that.

Our first bath night worked wonderfully! I was so tired afterwards but everyone got bathed and there was not one peep out of any of them. We had an assembly line going and it would be even more effcient if Elle were available too but we don't always ask her to stay. She is so helpful in other ways with feedings and running errands. Our first bath night we used every blanket, towel and washcloth we had- it was hilarious! Once we really get the hang of it things won't be so crazy.

We had a home healthcare nurse come by to check on us yesterday and she was terrific. She helped in so many ways with the girls, she propped up their mattresses (seems simple and logical) so they can still lay on their backs after feedings and not choke if the spit up. She super swaddled each one and had lots of other handy tips. Dave is a much better swaddler than I am, I have been temped to wake him up to help swaddle someone but have just managed on my own.

Our doctor is wonderful, she ordered the home visits with a nurse so we wouldn't have to come in the office to check their weights. She also called the morning of their discharge to see if we had any questions and then again that night to see how things were going- she is a super woman!

I have calls out to check the references for a night nurse- we definetely can use one! She will come in and do the 11 and 2am feedings, I can come downstairs and then sleep in the nursery until the 5am feeding, or Dave can do that one before he goes to work. He is only working for a few hours each day for now- thank goodness for his flexibility.

I will back track with some other info:

Leaving the hospital- what a sight!!! One man thought we were crazy, carrying 3 dolls in carriers around hospital. Dave heard his wife, "Those are their babies you fool!" The man still didn't believe it. We got plenty of stares and craned necks as we passed by. And of course every meth addict that was visiting a friend who was there from a stupid motorcycle stunt had to try to get a closer look. I'm not even kidding! Skinny, pale, bad teeth, shakey people kept trying to peek into their carriers while Dave got the car. Mama Lion was ready- "STEP AWAY FROM THE BABIES!!!"

Let's not forget little 'ole me:

I hated the c-section. I don't think either way is ideal for any amount of babies to leave a woman's body but the surgery was horrible. Laying there awake while they pull people out of you is NOT a good thing. Also, the surgery filled me up with fluids and air. My legs, ankles and feet were enormous and it was hard to get around with that along with my incision. The air in the belly might have been worse. I was almost bigger than when I arrived to give birth but now it was hollow- it was like having a drum! It literally echo'd when I beat on it- I did have to find my own entertainment at times. My feet stayed large until today- the other day I looked like a walking funhouse mirror- skinny on top, big round belly, skinny legs until the knees and then big fat ankles and feet.

We are feeling pretty good about sharing in the babies schedule, but I know it's gonna wear on us soon. We get about 5 to 6 hours at a time, just one of us, the other only getting 4 or maybe 5. We flip-flop nights on who does what and it never fails, each of us gets a turn with a fussy baby. Those babies love spreading the nighttime joy between both of us.

I do find myself tearing up while feeding, during the day after I have slept well and can enjoy these little wonders. I can't believe they are all ours to watch grow into beautiful ladies. I love that each one looks different and we can almost distinguish them by their cries. They are so tiny that they don't cry much but when they do, it's something!