Phew! We are almost 3 months into this crazy new life! If you haven't noticed, I've had a terrible time finding time to update the blog now that the girls have arrived. I lay in bed thinking of all of the things I need to do and this is just one of them!
The girls are doing so great! We took them for their 2 month check up a few weeks ago, and their weights were:
Ally- 9 lbs. 8 oz
Abby- 8 lbs. 14 oz
Izzy- 8 lbx. 12.5 oz
They've, of course, grown since then, so I'd say they're probably around 10+ pounds... especially little Ally... that little girls takes after her momma and loves to eat!!! I'm having a hard time keeping her satisfied! She consistenly takes more than her sisters and all my cute little matching outfits are not going to be so cute if I have to squeeze her into them! But, gotta feed a hungry baby... even if the dresses don't match! :)
I'm still keeping them on a strict eating schedule, but if it's time to eat, I give them as much as they'll take. Right now, they usually take 3-4 oz. Ally sometimes will take 6 oz until she feels full and happy. For a while, we had some bad tummy problems with Izzy and Abby (especially Abby), but we switched all the girls to soy formula and we have seen a HUGE improvement. Thank goodness! They still spit-up, but it's pretty normal now. In the first month and a half, Abby was spitting up very thick mucus that would choke her... very scary! So glad that issue is over.
The girls are actually sleeping through the night now! I guess you would call it sleeping through the night... we still feed them at 11 pm, put them down, then they sleep until 6 or 7. SOOOO much better than getting them up to eat at 2 and 5 am.
I still have people coming in to help with the feedings, but I can be alone with them in between. Granted, there have been times when all 4 of us were crying, but those times are few! I'm actually learning to use my feet a lot more. For example, right now, I am bouncing a baby in her bouncy seat with my foot while typing. I have been known to bounce 2 babies with my feet, pull their music tab with my toes, all while feeding a hungry baby! Sad, I know!
Izzy has had some bouts with collic in the evening, so poor Matt gets to come home to a night of crying pretty often, but we've learned a few tricks to keeping her happy. One thing I can say: Pacifiers are wonderful! All 3 babies take "pacies" and I spend much of my day plugging them in! We've watched a dvd that a friend gave me called "The Happiest Baby on the Block" and I would recommend to any new mom.
We take them to church every Sunday... that has become quite a feat! Matt's mom comes over and helps us get them ready and we load them all up to go... They go in the nursery because a: we have a brand new infant nursery with only one other baby in
it and b: I need a break and I don't enjoy the service at all if I have to worry about the babies interrupting. Think about how a mother feels with one baby interrupting the service... I have the possibility of creating 3 or more interruptions and all of the blame points to me! I get much more out of the service when I don't have to worry about that!
Last weekend, Matt and I went to a musical in Tulsa and out to dinner... very nice to get out. Mom and my grandparents stayed with the girls. It's so nice to be able to get out every now and again. I actually felt like our old selves for a change!
Overall, the girls are very good babies. They have their tummy aches and times they want to be held, but most of the time, they will sit in their boppies, bouncies or swings and wait their turn to be held.
As of now, my feeding schedule is 6:30/7 am, 10:30 am, 2 pm, 5pm, 8pm, 11pm. 6 feedings...I usually have someone here to help me with all of them. Though, it is possible to feed them alone...not desirable, but possible. I even have something called "The Extra Hand" which helps hold a bottle if I'm in a bind. I put the girls in boppies on the floor, hold one bottle and let the extra hand feed the other baby as I watch closely and burp her.
One thing that makes me a little sad: I wish I had more time to be able to slow down and enjoy things. For example, bathtime. I used to think I would slow down, talk to them, lotion them up and bath time would be a sweet little time together. With 3 babies, it ends up being assembly line bath time. Bring me a dirty naked baby and I'll give you back a clean naked baby... Next! Same with feeding, changing diapers, etc. It's always hurry hurry hurry, there's another baby waiting for her turn!
I'll try to post some pics and videos asap. Ally and Izzy are smiling now and holding their heads up good. Abby is on the verge... just a little behind. I also have a cute video of matt gagging his way thru a poopy diaper... so funny!!!
Abby, Izzy, Ally
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
1 month update
Well, the babies are one month old today and we're still alive and kicking! We just had another Dr's appointment this morning and he confirmed again that the girls are perfect! All are in the 3rd percentile for weight at 1 month old, but we're just happy they're on the charts at all! Abby and Ally weighed 6 lbs 12 oz and Izzy is catching them fast... she weighed 6 lbs 11 oz! She's definitely gained the most since birth... over 2 pounds!!!
We're still using a schedule and having volunteers come in and help feed... it's our only hope for survival at this point. I still haven't taken the babies out in public yet (besides the Dr). I've been waiting until at least their 40 week due date (6/23). I've been making a joke that the house is their womb for now! A lot of people are wondering if it's ok to come visit at this point.... I say, why not?! I just have 4 rules I live by:
1) Still no kiddos for now - the Dr. says the cold a 4 year old has is the RSV virus just waiting to manifest for your babies.
2) Everyone washes their hands before handling the babies.
3) Hold their little heads!!!
4) Please Don't come if you're even the slightest bit sick.
Is that rude?! If you follow these guidelines, I'm a happy mom! Otherwise, I'm a mess! So, with that said, friends of the family are definitely welcome to come see/hold the babies!
We plan to take them to church sometime in July, but I'm a little worried about what a distraction/parade it will be. There ain't no sneakin' in the back with infant triplets! The Dr. told me it's ok to take them to church, but don't put them in the nursery and don't pass them around like new puppies. The mother in me wants to bring a thing of hand sanitizer and Lysol with me for everyone to get de-germed, but I think that might be a little extreme!
You may be wondering... what does one do when all babies get fussy at the same time? First of all... There's usually 2 people here at the house. But, right now, I'm alone with 2 fussy babies. I have Izzy in the swing and Abby is in her boppy. I keep them close so I can plug them with a pacifier when they start to cry... this usually works. If 3 start to fuss, I hold her or find the bouncy seat. Plan B is to call for backup!!! Overall though, they're pretty good babies so far... not too much crying. Thank goodness!
Gotta go... swing's not workign anymore!!!
We're still using a schedule and having volunteers come in and help feed... it's our only hope for survival at this point. I still haven't taken the babies out in public yet (besides the Dr). I've been waiting until at least their 40 week due date (6/23). I've been making a joke that the house is their womb for now! A lot of people are wondering if it's ok to come visit at this point.... I say, why not?! I just have 4 rules I live by:
1) Still no kiddos for now - the Dr. says the cold a 4 year old has is the RSV virus just waiting to manifest for your babies.
2) Everyone washes their hands before handling the babies.
3) Hold their little heads!!!
4) Please Don't come if you're even the slightest bit sick.
Is that rude?! If you follow these guidelines, I'm a happy mom! Otherwise, I'm a mess! So, with that said, friends of the family are definitely welcome to come see/hold the babies!
We plan to take them to church sometime in July, but I'm a little worried about what a distraction/parade it will be. There ain't no sneakin' in the back with infant triplets! The Dr. told me it's ok to take them to church, but don't put them in the nursery and don't pass them around like new puppies. The mother in me wants to bring a thing of hand sanitizer and Lysol with me for everyone to get de-germed, but I think that might be a little extreme!
You may be wondering... what does one do when all babies get fussy at the same time? First of all... There's usually 2 people here at the house. But, right now, I'm alone with 2 fussy babies. I have Izzy in the swing and Abby is in her boppy. I keep them close so I can plug them with a pacifier when they start to cry... this usually works. If 3 start to fuss, I hold her or find the bouncy seat. Plan B is to call for backup!!! Overall though, they're pretty good babies so far... not too much crying. Thank goodness!
Gotta go... swing's not workign anymore!!!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Thank You!!!
Matt wrote the following letter to be posted in the church newsletter. It really captures the thanks we feel and I know not everyone we need to thank reads our church newsletter... so, here it is:
To our friends and family,
As we are writing this letter, we have had our triplet girls at home for three weeks. When we stop and think about it, we are filled with emotion: Emotions of excitement and pure joy. Most would think that fear would be one, but we are not really fearful of what is to come… because God has time and time again taken care of us. He has shown us his perfect love, and like it says in 1 John, “Perfect love drives out fear.” We have no doubt that God will continue to help us through this.
We have also felt the perfect love of God through our families. They have done so much to help us. We have tried to say “Thank you” as much as we can, but it just doesn’t seem to be enough to equal our gratitude.
And last, but certainly not least, we have felt the love of God through our friends. You have all worked tirelessly to get everything ready for the babies, and showered us with much needed supplies. Every single act of kindness was noticed, and we are grateful. You’ve made the transition from expecting one baby to three so much easier.
James, the brother of Jesus, wrote “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do!” We have seen your faith, and you are truly living it out.
In the unifying love of Christ,
Matt, Kami, Isabelle, Abigail, and Allison Martin
To our friends and family,
As we are writing this letter, we have had our triplet girls at home for three weeks. When we stop and think about it, we are filled with emotion: Emotions of excitement and pure joy. Most would think that fear would be one, but we are not really fearful of what is to come… because God has time and time again taken care of us. He has shown us his perfect love, and like it says in 1 John, “Perfect love drives out fear.” We have no doubt that God will continue to help us through this.
We have also felt the perfect love of God through our families. They have done so much to help us. We have tried to say “Thank you” as much as we can, but it just doesn’t seem to be enough to equal our gratitude.
And last, but certainly not least, we have felt the love of God through our friends. You have all worked tirelessly to get everything ready for the babies, and showered us with much needed supplies. Every single act of kindness was noticed, and we are grateful. You’ve made the transition from expecting one baby to three so much easier.
James, the brother of Jesus, wrote “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do!” We have seen your faith, and you are truly living it out.
In the unifying love of Christ,
Matt, Kami, Isabelle, Abigail, and Allison Martin
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Daddy's little girls
In this picture, Matt has his lap full with his precious little girls! Everyone is doing really well... we went to the Dr. on Monday and he says they're perfect! I could tell he was surprised. He kept asking me if they had any special heart, eye or ear doctors they needed to see and he looked very surprised when I told him of the minor complications we had with Ally. You could see he expected to have more complications with triplets. All I can continue to say is God is good! The girls are gaining weight and doing well. Both Abby and Ally weighed 5 lb 8 oz and Izzy is gaining on them... she weighed 5 lb 4 oz!
The girls are sticking to the schedule pretty good, but we usually have one fussy one during the 2-3 hour sleeping stretch. I think this is to be expected, but we're hoping to keep them all on the same schedule for our sanity. I'm tired, but I think I'm about as sleep deprived as any normal new mom. I have stretches (thanks to helpers) where I will get 3,4 or 5 hours at a time... these really help! I think the hardest part is never really leaving the house. Normal moms would be able to take their baby to Wal-Mart or the park, whereas, with preemie triplets, we just need to stay put at home. I know... eventually it will get easier. That's what everyone says. Right now, my sole purpose in life is to feed, burp, change and love these 3 little girls... the outside world can wait for a few more months. I have to admit though, I save money when I never leave the house!
Well, Ally's fussing... I'll write more later!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
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