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.