I can't believe the babies are 7 months old!!! It is truly getting easier every day. As I type this, Izzy is playing in the floor (surrounded by a baby fence that takes up the entire living room), Abby is in the toy car (playing with toys) and Ally is in the jumper, which we call "the office" (They're so serious when they're in it... cranking and spinning the toys)! They're all playing nicely, and I love to listen to the sounds! This will last for about 10 minutes before someone is unhappy with their situation, but for now, everyone is happy.
They're eating solid foods now... we're still on 1st foods: carrots, squash, green beans, etc. They also eat oatmeal cereal with peaches or applesauce. At first the feeding was a total pain, trying to get them to eat from a spoon and getting them to understand it will fill that empty tummy like the beloved bottle. Ally, my chunky baby, LOVES her bottle and was having a hard time adjusting, but is now getting used to it. My littlest, Izzy, has always been the best eater. I think she probably eats the most, but works it all off in her "floor routine", as I like to call it. She's goes from one end of the living room to the next, rolling around and getting up on her knees like she's going to crawl. She's a very active baby and will most likely be crawling by my next post.
The feeding routine at this point is: bottle in early morning, cereal/fruit about 11am, bottle in afternoon, vegetables 1 to 2 tubs in evening followed by a tiny bottle, and cereal/bottle in late evening. I've been very confused on what and when to feed the babies. Everything I read says your baby will "let you know". Well... for a new mom, it's not always that easy. I'm always worried they're not getting enough or they're getting too much. One thing I can say... they're definitely having A LOT more poopy diapers. Seriously... today, It is not even noon and I have changed 6 poops already!!! ugh! My new saying is: "poopy diapers... it's what I do." I have asked a lot of people for advice, but most don't remember what or how much they fed their babies. Even the Dr told me the babies will "let me know". So... I'm figuring it must not be rocket science and they'll be ok as long as they're gaining weight and seem satisfied. They still spit up, which is a little frustrating. I've heard they usually stop by now, but no such luck. I still have them on soy, which helps with the tummy problems, but not so much on the spit ups.
They're definitely interacting more and more every day. They roll around on the floor together and I often have to separate them because they're biting each other's hands, pulling hair, kicking, etc. Although that sounds rough, they don't know what they're doing yet... it's very unintentional. They laugh at each other and talk their baby talk too. It's very sweet. Sometimes, when one is upset, they even calm each other by just seeing their sister's face. Right now, the one in the car and the one in the office are face-to-face and giggling at each other. Very cute!
Here's an individual breakdown of what each baby is doing now:
Izzy has two bottom teeth... very cute! As I mentioned earlier, she's getting up on her knees and rocking, but not crawling yet. She rolls all over the floor and, if she sees a toy, she can maneuver her body to get where it is pretty efficiently. She is going through a phase where she's afraid of strangers. She only wants her mommy and daddy and gets pretty upset when someone else is holding her. Being aware of this, we've tried to intentionally break her of it, letting her spend more time with her grandmas, and she's getting better. Matt and I went to Tulsa last weekend and spent the day. Matt's mom and my mom watched the girls and Izzy did just fine. If it was anyone other than them, though, I think we would have had a scream-fest on our hands. She is very sweet to her sisters and seems very concerned when one is crying. Izzy plays on the floor a lot and doesn't really liked to be confined to a bouncy seat or swing. She looks up at me all day to make sure I'm still there and smiles very easily.
Abby is a little cutie. She just started getting her two bottom teeth a few days ago. She also rolls all over the floor, but is not making attempts to crawl yet. She likes the bouncy seat a lot, but often I have to take her toys away from her because she gets mad at them and starts screaming! It's very strange. I take them away and she's happy again! Matt and I both think Abby somehow knows how cute she is... if you stand her up on your lap, she sticks her little belly out and has that little "I know I'm cute" look on her face. She really warmed up to her daddy while he was home over the Thanksgiving break and may just be a daddy's girl... though she still likes her mommy pretty well too. Abby shows good dexterity when playing with her toys, and her meemaw thinks she is very smart ;)
Ally... oh Ally. Ally is... well, kind of a brat right now. She wants what she wants when she wants it. And she screams and screams until she gets it. I have good things to say too... just hold on a minute. She is very loud when she screams and it can by very trying sometimes! I have a feeling (as do others) she might be my little temper tantrum thower someday. I would also like to go on record saying, I am not the only one that has used the term "brat". I know, I know... she's only 7 months old, but I'm pretty sure she knows what she's doing. Ok... for the good stuff: Ally LOVES to be held and she usually cries because of this. She would be happy being held and rocked 24/7. And, really, that is a sweet temperment, right? I mean, she loves to cuddle and loves people. She is my baby baby. She still likes to be swaddled, likes her pacifier, loves to be held and rocked and wants her bottle. She rolls over, but is not nearly as mobile as the other two. (Probably because she spends less time on the floor?!) She has beautiful baby blue eyes and big chunk-a-munk cheeks and laughs a lot! She is pretty easy to make chuckle, but she thinks her daddy is the funniest thing ever. He literally has to just look at her to make her laugh out loud. So cute! If you haven't seen the video of her laughing, go back to the last post... so precious!
As for the sleep situation: I now have a pack-n-play set up in the guest bedroom and in our bedroom. For naps, I put one down in the nursery, one in the guest room and one in our bedroom. This ensures they don't wake each other up prematurely from their naps. At night, I lay them all in their cribs in the same room. If one gets up (which happens almost every night), they get promptly moved to the guest room pack-n-play to spend the rest of the night in solitude! Luckily, I have two monitor bases, so I can still hear both rooms from my bed. All of the books said the girls would get used to each others' cries. This is true for falling asleep if one is crying... it kind of lulls them to sleep after a while. But this is not true for going from a deep, silent sleep to hearing someone scream in the middle. Knowing this, I might have tried putting their cribs in separate rooms... maybe. They go down very well, a lot of people are amazed to see that I don't rock them to sleep, just lay them in their crib and they fall asleep. They may cry or talk to themselves for a while, but have learned to soothe themselves well.
I have been doing most days on my own still... Mom and Cheryl help with Dr's appointments, mommy's day out, professional pictures, etc, but overall, I can do this on my own, which is still a very good feeling. Now, people can come over to see the babies when they want, rather than feel obligated. My feeling is: a baby can cry a little... If it takes a minute to get to her... It may just teach her a little patience. (Though I can't say this is working for Ally just yet!) Of course, I distinguish between cries... if it is a pain cry, they're attended to promptly... don't call DHS on me or anything! Ok, let's see, I've talked about their eating, pooping, sleeping and playing... that's pretty much what we do around here! I'm so happy and blessed to have these beautiful little girls in my life!
I hope you all have a Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas like we will!!!
Here's an example of the babies playing... you might notice Izzy is in the bouncer and Ally is in the car... switched them around since the beginning of my post...
Abby, Izzy, Ally
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
A Very Thankful Heart...
This Thanksgiving, I have so very much to be thankful for... Let me give you some of the reasons:
Matt and I tried to get pregnant for two years before resorting to medicine. With the drug I took, I had a 35% chance of even getting pregnant... I got pregnant the first time I took it. The odds of having triplets with this drug were less than half a percent. The odds of carrying the triplets to 35 weeks and working 28 of those weeks, extremely low. the odds of all three babies being perfect and getting to come home from the hospital with their mom, slim-to-none. All of the odds were stacked against us, but God is faithful and with Him all things are possible.
He also provided by using family, friends and our church family. So many people helped by praying, giving gifts, helping us build onto our house and feeding babies. I've never needed to rely so heavily on God or His people, but this reliance has produced a very thankful heart.
I wanted to share this testimony first and foremost to give ALL of the glory to God for what He has done, but also as a thank you to my friends, family and church family for letting Him bless us through you as well.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Matt and I tried to get pregnant for two years before resorting to medicine. With the drug I took, I had a 35% chance of even getting pregnant... I got pregnant the first time I took it. The odds of having triplets with this drug were less than half a percent. The odds of carrying the triplets to 35 weeks and working 28 of those weeks, extremely low. the odds of all three babies being perfect and getting to come home from the hospital with their mom, slim-to-none. All of the odds were stacked against us, but God is faithful and with Him all things are possible.
He also provided by using family, friends and our church family. So many people helped by praying, giving gifts, helping us build onto our house and feeding babies. I've never needed to rely so heavily on God or His people, but this reliance has produced a very thankful heart.
I wanted to share this testimony first and foremost to give ALL of the glory to God for what He has done, but also as a thank you to my friends, family and church family for letting Him bless us through you as well.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
The Girls' Birth Day
I've been wanting to write about the girls' birth day for a while now. I want to document some of these details before I forget...
The C-Section was scheduled for 12:00 at St. Francis. As we checked in at 10:00, the receptionist was waiting on us! From what I heard, the staff had been looking forward to delivering and caring for triplets. I went back immediately and got changed into my gown. I was absolutely scared to death. As a matter of fact, Matt took a video of me before we left the house that morning and, as he pointed the camera at my face, asked, "are you scared?" I can't watch that video without crying because I feel sorry for myself... choking up as I say that I'm very scared. I had mixed emotions...I was VERY uncomfortable and ready to get the babies out of my tummy... but was afraid of the surgery and probably more afraid of the unknown... how were we going to do this?! I didn't know how to take care of one baby, let alone three!
In the prep room, they hooked up my IV and I waited for 12:00. As I waited, I meditated over scripture, trying to calm myself. Matt and I prayed and cried together a little... He didn't admit it until that moment, but he was as scared as I was. I think reality had finally hit. They wheeled me back by myself, saying Matt couldn't be in the room for the spinal block (which is very strange in my opinion... he can be in there for the surgery, but not the big shot in my back?) Anyway, it took a good long time to get the spinal block... it was very hard for me to sit on the side of the bed and hunch over my enormous belly. The nurse kept asking me, does it feel like it's on your spine, to the left or to the right? Very hard to tell, by the way, and making me more nervous by the minute! After what seemed like an eternity, I was moved to the table and felt my legs getting numb. I had made up my mind I was going to try to disconnect myself from the surgery and didn't want to know when they were cutting, etc. because I was terrified of being awake while they were cutting me open and had their hands inside me!! I guess they had already started and hadn't gone to get Matt yet. Even though they didn't give me anything to calm my mind, it feels like a dream... don't know if that was the spinal block effecting me, or God delivering me from my fear. Maybe a little of both!
Matt told me they went back to get him, and when they told him they already started, he took off as fast as he could to get there. He said when he got there, I was already cut open. He talked to me, but kept looking at what was going on over the sheet. For anyone that doesn't know, they put up a curtain over your chest, so you can't see what's going on. Matt kept peeking around the curtain, though I didn't want him to. I was scared to death he would pass out and leave me there alone! But, he didn't pass out and seemed very interested in what was going on. He said they had my stomach skin pulled all the way up to my chest and my shoulders and head were jerking around a lot as they moved me on the table. Tears just rolled down my eyes the whole time.
As they brought out the first baby, Izzy, we heard her cry and Matt and I both started laughing and crying. He kept telling me how beautiful she was. I've never been more in love with him than at that moment. He looked so happy and in awe of what was happening. They whisked Izzy off without me seeing her, then, less than a minute later, came Abby. As she was born, she let out her scream and peed on the doctors! Matt said, "She has tons of black hair", then made a joke about her looking like the UPS man. The Doctor chuckled under his mask, but kept working. Less than a minute after Abby, Ally was born. Ally had swallowed some fluid while she was waiting to be born, so she needed oxygen right away. They took all 3 babies back to a room close by and asked if Matt wanted to go with them. He looked at me like, "Can I?" (I had asked that he not leave me... but by that time, both our priorities had changed.) "Go! I'm fine", I said. The nurse talked to me the rest of the time, asking me about the girls' names, etc. and helped me to get through those final moments. Though they were still working on me, the girls needed to get back to the NICU, so they brought each baby to me to kiss on the cheek. They all looked the same from the angle I was at, and all were bundled with only their little faces showing.
Matt ran out to the lobby to let the families know how everything had gone. When he got out to the lobby, he broke down crying and said, "We have three healthy little girls!" Everyone told me how sweet he was, hugging his parents and crying. (Like I said, I think it all sank in within about a 3 hour time frame for him). When they wheeled me back into the original prep room, I felt better IMMEDIATELY! I had no idea how uncomfortable I had gotten having 3 babies in my tummy. A huge weight (literally) had been lifted! Although I had the girls at noon, I was unable to see them until about 10:00 at night since I had a C-Section and they were in the NICU. If the babies are in the NICU, they can't take them out, and if you have a C-Section, they won't let you get out of bed until you can move your legs. As a matter of fact, I had to manipulate the system just to get to see them when I did. The nurses wouldn't let me, but I convinced my Dr. I was ok and got into a wheel chair to go see them. While I was in the NICU, I was sweaty, pastey and vomited into a cup, but I got to see and hold my little girls.
Here are a few pictures of that day:
Matt in prep room
Me in prep room
Poor little Ally
Abby
Abby
Izzy
Izzy
The C-Section was scheduled for 12:00 at St. Francis. As we checked in at 10:00, the receptionist was waiting on us! From what I heard, the staff had been looking forward to delivering and caring for triplets. I went back immediately and got changed into my gown. I was absolutely scared to death. As a matter of fact, Matt took a video of me before we left the house that morning and, as he pointed the camera at my face, asked, "are you scared?" I can't watch that video without crying because I feel sorry for myself... choking up as I say that I'm very scared. I had mixed emotions...I was VERY uncomfortable and ready to get the babies out of my tummy... but was afraid of the surgery and probably more afraid of the unknown... how were we going to do this?! I didn't know how to take care of one baby, let alone three!
In the prep room, they hooked up my IV and I waited for 12:00. As I waited, I meditated over scripture, trying to calm myself. Matt and I prayed and cried together a little... He didn't admit it until that moment, but he was as scared as I was. I think reality had finally hit. They wheeled me back by myself, saying Matt couldn't be in the room for the spinal block (which is very strange in my opinion... he can be in there for the surgery, but not the big shot in my back?) Anyway, it took a good long time to get the spinal block... it was very hard for me to sit on the side of the bed and hunch over my enormous belly. The nurse kept asking me, does it feel like it's on your spine, to the left or to the right? Very hard to tell, by the way, and making me more nervous by the minute! After what seemed like an eternity, I was moved to the table and felt my legs getting numb. I had made up my mind I was going to try to disconnect myself from the surgery and didn't want to know when they were cutting, etc. because I was terrified of being awake while they were cutting me open and had their hands inside me!! I guess they had already started and hadn't gone to get Matt yet. Even though they didn't give me anything to calm my mind, it feels like a dream... don't know if that was the spinal block effecting me, or God delivering me from my fear. Maybe a little of both!
Matt told me they went back to get him, and when they told him they already started, he took off as fast as he could to get there. He said when he got there, I was already cut open. He talked to me, but kept looking at what was going on over the sheet. For anyone that doesn't know, they put up a curtain over your chest, so you can't see what's going on. Matt kept peeking around the curtain, though I didn't want him to. I was scared to death he would pass out and leave me there alone! But, he didn't pass out and seemed very interested in what was going on. He said they had my stomach skin pulled all the way up to my chest and my shoulders and head were jerking around a lot as they moved me on the table. Tears just rolled down my eyes the whole time.
As they brought out the first baby, Izzy, we heard her cry and Matt and I both started laughing and crying. He kept telling me how beautiful she was. I've never been more in love with him than at that moment. He looked so happy and in awe of what was happening. They whisked Izzy off without me seeing her, then, less than a minute later, came Abby. As she was born, she let out her scream and peed on the doctors! Matt said, "She has tons of black hair", then made a joke about her looking like the UPS man. The Doctor chuckled under his mask, but kept working. Less than a minute after Abby, Ally was born. Ally had swallowed some fluid while she was waiting to be born, so she needed oxygen right away. They took all 3 babies back to a room close by and asked if Matt wanted to go with them. He looked at me like, "Can I?" (I had asked that he not leave me... but by that time, both our priorities had changed.) "Go! I'm fine", I said. The nurse talked to me the rest of the time, asking me about the girls' names, etc. and helped me to get through those final moments. Though they were still working on me, the girls needed to get back to the NICU, so they brought each baby to me to kiss on the cheek. They all looked the same from the angle I was at, and all were bundled with only their little faces showing.
Matt ran out to the lobby to let the families know how everything had gone. When he got out to the lobby, he broke down crying and said, "We have three healthy little girls!" Everyone told me how sweet he was, hugging his parents and crying. (Like I said, I think it all sank in within about a 3 hour time frame for him). When they wheeled me back into the original prep room, I felt better IMMEDIATELY! I had no idea how uncomfortable I had gotten having 3 babies in my tummy. A huge weight (literally) had been lifted! Although I had the girls at noon, I was unable to see them until about 10:00 at night since I had a C-Section and they were in the NICU. If the babies are in the NICU, they can't take them out, and if you have a C-Section, they won't let you get out of bed until you can move your legs. As a matter of fact, I had to manipulate the system just to get to see them when I did. The nurses wouldn't let me, but I convinced my Dr. I was ok and got into a wheel chair to go see them. While I was in the NICU, I was sweaty, pastey and vomited into a cup, but I got to see and hold my little girls.
Here are a few pictures of that day:
Matt in prep room
Me in prep room
Poor little Ally
Abby
Abby
Izzy
Izzy
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
5 1/2 month update
It's been a long time since my last post. The girls are doing SO great and will be 6 months old this month!!! It feels like longer than that, to tell you the truth... I don't mean that in a bad way, but it's been a long 6 months!!! It really is getting easier and easier every day though. I'm actually able to fully take care of the girls by myself now. I can feed all 3 in a little over an hour and that leaves 3 hours before the next feeding to play, nap and deal with whoever is fussy. Although, I can take care of them myself, it's very difficult to get anything done, so Cheryl (Matt's mom) comes over a couple days a week to let me clean, grocery shop, wash my hair, or type on the blog (like today)! I'm starting to feel a little more like a "normal" mom now that I can actually take care of my children myself and don't have to have 'round the clock help. It's very liberating and I'm feeling more confident every day.
The latest news on the girls: All 3 girls are rolling over now, which makes them mobile... a little more work than before. I know, I know... It's going to get worse!! I think my mom is going to get us an indoor fence for Christmas to keep them from rolling all over the house! They all giggle a lot and even interact with each other.
A few examples of them interacting:
Izzy and Abby were on their tummies, facing each other, When Abby let out one of her earth-shattering shrieks, it scared Izzy and she started crying terribly. Sad, but funny.
Often the girls will roll into each other and we'll find Ally sucking on Abby's hand or vice versa.
Also, the other day, Abby started crying and screaming and I found Ally pulling her hair!!!
Again, I know... just the beginning... you don't have to tell me!!
They all talk a lot and blow bubbles... a very fun stage. One other endearing trait: Abby is now in the habit of laying on her tummy in her crib and can lift her head high enough to look out... VERY cute to see her watch you coming to get her! As for sitting up, the girls are doing the little stomach crunch things like they want to sit up. When I sit them up, they can balance pretty good, but aren't quite doing it on their own yet.
The girls went as the 3 little pigs for Halloween... no trick or treating yet, but they sure looked cute to show off at the pumpkin patch and for their first Halloween pics.
Matt still seems to be holding up pretty good... he has even been left alone with them a time or two when I went to choir practice or to work out. One night, I was in the shower when he decided to give them all baths before I was finished. He said they all had a look of concern on their face as he was bathing them, and there was no bath playtime or singing, but no one cried and they were all clean in the end! A great treat for me!!! I honestly believe Matt was chosen to be a father of triplet girls. He is so patient and loving to me and the girls. If he weren't so helpful and understanding, I would have never survived this.
Here are a few recent pics:
Ally
Izzy, Ally, Abby
Ally, Izzy, Abby
Izzy
Abby
Ally
Izzy
Abby
The latest news on the girls: All 3 girls are rolling over now, which makes them mobile... a little more work than before. I know, I know... It's going to get worse!! I think my mom is going to get us an indoor fence for Christmas to keep them from rolling all over the house! They all giggle a lot and even interact with each other.
A few examples of them interacting:
Izzy and Abby were on their tummies, facing each other, When Abby let out one of her earth-shattering shrieks, it scared Izzy and she started crying terribly. Sad, but funny.
Often the girls will roll into each other and we'll find Ally sucking on Abby's hand or vice versa.
Also, the other day, Abby started crying and screaming and I found Ally pulling her hair!!!
Again, I know... just the beginning... you don't have to tell me!!
They all talk a lot and blow bubbles... a very fun stage. One other endearing trait: Abby is now in the habit of laying on her tummy in her crib and can lift her head high enough to look out... VERY cute to see her watch you coming to get her! As for sitting up, the girls are doing the little stomach crunch things like they want to sit up. When I sit them up, they can balance pretty good, but aren't quite doing it on their own yet.
The girls went as the 3 little pigs for Halloween... no trick or treating yet, but they sure looked cute to show off at the pumpkin patch and for their first Halloween pics.
Matt still seems to be holding up pretty good... he has even been left alone with them a time or two when I went to choir practice or to work out. One night, I was in the shower when he decided to give them all baths before I was finished. He said they all had a look of concern on their face as he was bathing them, and there was no bath playtime or singing, but no one cried and they were all clean in the end! A great treat for me!!! I honestly believe Matt was chosen to be a father of triplet girls. He is so patient and loving to me and the girls. If he weren't so helpful and understanding, I would have never survived this.
Here are a few recent pics:
Ally
Izzy, Ally, Abby
Ally, Izzy, Abby
Izzy
Abby
Ally
Izzy
Abby
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
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