Happy Thanksgiving (a day late!)

Aaron and I had a great Thanksgiving last night. Even though it was the first time without all of our family - dinner turned out great. We had all the usual fixings, used all of our fine china and crystal and the house was full of baby sounds....perfect evening! The babies were relatively quiet until the end when both girls wanted to come up front and join us. We ended up placing them in the swing together and got to enjoy another half hour or so at the table. It was the most beautiful holiday that I have ever had so far. Aaron even woke me up this morning to tell me how much much he enjoyed it also....all I can say is that I am forever completed and love my family so much.

Our first shot...notice the spit-up that just happened on what I got dressed to wear to dinner. I hadn't held Wylie for more than a minute before he got me. It is kind of like "Where's Waldo" these days - you can always find it somewhere on me at any time of day!

And now the progression that happened within seconds....



Will getting a picture of the three of them together get any easier?

And the morning after....sweet girls!

Yikes! Has it been a week already!

With some "subtle" hints from friends (thanks for the chocolate pie Cynthia - sweet bribery always works!), I realized it has been over a week since the last post and people are getting antsy! I guess being caught up doesn't last long when you have three newborns.

The babies continue to develop exceptionally well. Each are now following sights and sounds with their eyes and are beginning to sleep a tad bit longer during the nights (getting close to four hour stretches now). They are drinking almost 3oz per feeding and are really getting heavy. At the doctors on Monday, this was their weights:

Wylie: 6.11 lbs


Maggie: 6 lbs


Katie: 6 lbs

There really is a difference in picking them up now. They are almost out of the preemie size diapers and the preemie clothes only fit Katie now. Also, I would like to note so I can chuckle later down the road....nails! OK...keeping track of one baby's finger and toe nails is one thing but I never put together the chore in keeping up with three! That is THIRTY fingernails AND THIRTY toenails! I never realized the ongoing task this would be! Another side note - I had always pictured the three dressed in coordinating outfits...impossible! Not only do they spit up on their outfits before I get the next one dressed, it is next to impossible to keep THEIR outfits matching! My poor children...they look like a bunch mismatched orphans with various tops and bottoms being put together! I am hoping this gets better with time.

Being the week of Thanksgiving, I have been reflecting on how fortunate we are and how great a year it has been. What a Thanksgiving it is! I would have never dreamed that we would have a house FULL of children this time last year! I am so grateful and am looking forward to having a very special evening with the five of us! We have decided to stay home and have dinner here. I will do my best to make it as beautiful and wonderful as Kathleen usually does in Houston - even though I know it won't even be close. The last time I attempted setting the table like she does, my centerpiece went up in flames and ended up in the kitchen sink doused with water! Thanksgiving is always a special time of year we usually spend with Aaron's parents and family and we will definitely be missing them. Perhaps next year we will be able to travel again. If they won't mind three one year olds running around!

Here are some updated pics for everyone! Hopefully it won't be so long before next post!

Three peas in a pod!

Aaron holding Maggie after being at the office. The best treat to come home to!


Kisses - she is really hungry and pretending Daddy's nose is a bottle! Oh well....

Maggie and Wylie holding hands during Sunday Football with Daddy

All Caught Up!

Feeling much better since last post! Had a weekend of bouncing back and forth caring for babies with Aaron and was able to get a little rest here and there.

The babies are growing so fast and quickly approaching their due date which, from what I understand, ends the preemie stage and begins a whole other ballgame. The days when they were first born and still in the hospital are becoming fuzzy memories. We are so blessed to have these babies home with us and be able to watch them grow as quickly as they are. It is not going to be too much longer until they are no longer considered in a "preemie stage" and begin acting like full term babies. Their official due date is in a few weeks (December 9th) and changes are definitely beginning. They are getting more vocal, eating a lot more and able to wear a few more of the outfits we have for them. They change daily in every way including developing each of their very distinct personalities. It is nothing short of amazing to watch.

It is also indescribable how wonderful my mom has been in helping us. She is here every week day and does a tremendous amount of work and errands for us. Also, so many friends have been such a blessing including Kim Landers who has brought us meals every Sunday for months, First Presbyterian Church who also has brought a number of meals and visits, Wendy who is always available to help us make it to a doctors appt. or as an extra hand in caring for the babies, Aunt Patti who was able to head to Savannah whenever we needed her, all of my girlfriends who have called and sent care packages, Aaron's friends and colleagues who randomly drop off diapers or take Aaron out to dinner, Meghan, Lois and Ed (Color Me Happy - Downtown Brunswick) who finished my nursery when I was on bedrest, everyone who helped throw our showers (Carol, Angie, Mabry, Pat, Wendy, Aunt Patti, and Susan) and many many others who have helped in more ways than I can count. Aaron and I both have been overcome with gratitude and will never forget how giving and generous friends have been to us. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone....thank you for helping us bring home such wonderful, happy and healthy babies - we could not have done it by ourselves.

OK...enough sap! Want to see some new pics of these babes? :)

Me holding Mags

Aaron figuring out all those carseats! AND....HE WAS ABLE TO GET ALL THREE TO FIT IN THE FOURRUNNER!!!! NO MORE SPLITTING UP - YAY FOR DADDY!!!!

Katie watching my every move - not quite sure about that camera flash!

Wylie hanging out...waiting for his next bottle!

Daddy gave in....finally time to eat for Wylie!

1 a.m. and exhausted....

Today was an exhausting whirlwind. I went to bed around 4a.m and woke up around 8 when Aaron was finishing the before work/let me sleep feeding. While he went to the office for a couple of hours, I had to give all three a bath, pack the diaper bag, make up some formula, feed again, see if the girls now fit in the regular car seats, dress all three for the doctor visit and try to get dressed myself - all before noon when we were supposed to get on the road to head to Savannah. Naively, I thought I could do this by myself. What a wonderful surprise it was when Mom walked through the door! Even with her help, we barely made it.

I had borrowed the Honda Odyssey overnight from the dealership to "see how it does on the highway!" It was SOOOOO nice having everyone in the same car and having Aaron driving! I could relax a little being outside the house for once! We arrived in Savannah only a few minutes late and saw the Eye Specialist who gave us a great report on their eyes. The exam itself was awful though and Aaron had to hold each one because it broke my heart watching it.

We arrived back home around 6 where we had to change and diaper each baby before I headed back to the dealership to return the van. They must be getting sick of seeing me. This has been an everyday process for over a week now! Although I have to admit....for each day we hold out, the deal gets better! I picked up take out on the way home but it had to wait....by the time I got back home it was time for another feeding! Finally got some dinner around 8:30 and rested for a couple of hours.

Since 10:45 (over two hours), I have been struggling with Maggie and Wylie. They finished their bottles but spit up every time I lay them down. I just put them in the "fed bed" and am crossing my fingers it will stick. At one point tonight, I was holding both while they threw up on each of my shoulders. There was nothing more I could do than just hold them and rock. Neither are sleeping right now but at least they are not crying or have milk coming out of their noses! Katie is snoring in the middle....she is as worn out as me! I have to feed them again in an hour so I have decided to just wait it out - after that is my nice long stretch until 9a.m. when the day starts over.

My eyes are crossing, my back hurts, I am thirsty and I want sleep! I wonder if I could make myself fit in one of these empty cribs for just an hour.............

Happy 1 Month!

Just wanted to say Happy 1 Month to the babies!

We love you so much and are so proud of the progress each of you have made. It is hard to believe that just a month ago tonight, we were meeting you for the first time in the NICU. Being eight weeks early, we had to just look at you...unable to even hold such a small baby. Now, tonight you are home and have spent all day in my arms while I stare in complete awe at how perfect each of you are.

In such a short time, the three of you have become the lights of our lives and you couldn't make us any more happier than we are right now.

Love Mom and Dad

Maggie

Wylie

Katie

Tired but Happy!

Things are going great but the fatigue is catching up some. Last night I woke Aaron up for the 6a.m. feeding which he always takes over but he was convinced that it was only 2a.m. - No way had the night gone by that fast! I knew the feeling well!

Daddy looking kind of tired!

One day's worth of bottles (24 count)

How we feed all three in the middle of the night

We did have some fun over the weekend. Mom and Wendy came over and were our first ever babysitters Friday night while Aaron and I went out for sushi. I have craved a good sushi dinner since I found out I was pregnant so we decided to treat ourselves. We went over to the new sushi place in Redfern and had a fabulous time. It was really nice!

Saturday, I headed out and test drove minivans while Aaron kept the babies. Yep....making the jump. I think that I found a good Honda Odyssey used and hope to bring it home Wednesday to let Aaron check it out. He is even less thrilled than I am to have a van (and I am hardly excited) but choices are slim when you have three in carseats.

Today, Mom is over helping and let me "catch up" on stuff (like a new blog!). Hope all is well for everyone. Now that this is done....going to splurge on a hot shower and try to get dressed for the day!

Maggie

Sisters (Katie on the left and Maggie on the right)

Bath Time!

Katie

Wylie

Our Life with Triplets

Change diaper, feed, burp, snuggle for a minute, change outfit due to dribbles - sometimes change diaper again, prop up in boppy to avoid spitup for thirty minutes while you begin the next in line, lay all three down and hope for an hour to rest yourself before starting over again! It is definitely exhausting at times but we wouldn't have it any other way. It's funny....Aaron and I now write notes to each other in the middle of the night about how a feeding went - something I look forward to reading when it is my turn :) What time he started/finished, how much each ate, what their diaper was like...conversations held by families with lots of small children! This is now our beautiful routine in our home!

The babies are doing wonderfully and seem to be growing a pound at a time! Yesterday a nurse came over to check on them and weighed each.....Wylie is up to 5.15 lbs, Maggie is 5.6 lbs and little Katie came in at 5.4 lbs!!!! She has almost caught up with her sister and the two are beginning to become hard to tell apart!!!! Albeit, the nurse did not undress them like the doctor does but each have definitely gotten bigger!

Last night was the first time that I got "caught" with more than one hungry baby. The girls woke each other up and both started screaming. They rocked the house for a little while! It is definitely going to get interesting as they get bigger and these times happen more often!

Enjoy the pics - As for me, it is time for another feeding!

Katie, Wylie and Maggie

Wylie

Katie letting me know she is hungry and wants to be first!

Wylie enjoying a full tummy

Maggie and Wylie

Wylie, Katie and Maggie

I know everyone is ready for a new post!

As you can imagine, this week has probably been one of the busiest in our lives! I really wanted to post earlier but finding the time has proven to be somewhat harder than I thought! All three babies were discharged together on Tuesday and we have been home getting used to things. They are on a three hour schedule which means Aaron or I are pretty much always awake. It is amazing how quick three hours passes before having to do things all over!

Each baby is doing fantastic! Maggie still has her monitor on and it has gone off a couple of times. It scares us but she has self corrected before we ever even reach her. Sometimes it is an accelerated or decrease in heartbeats, sometimes she holds her breath too long - all are pretty common for preemies. Wylie and Katie continue to finish every bottle in record time and are really growing! Wylie is now over 5lbs (5.4). Katie has proven to be the leader of the bunch and is usually the first to wake up and want to be fed. Wylie is much more laid back and just loves to be held. He had a weekend full of football with Aaron as the two just hung out up front and napped together. Sweet little Maggie is the most patient. Since she has the monitor, she has been pretty much limited to the nursery. She is also the slowest eater so she usually gets her bottle last so we have the time to spend with her. Even with these challenges, she never cries....just patiently waits her turn.

All in all, Aaron and I are very tired but doing great. Aaron has been wonderful with helping out on the feedings and usually starts his day with the 4:00 a.m. We both sleep whenever able which seems to be working. My mom has been coming over during weekdays to help with the babies and she even still cooks home cooked meals for us which is always delicious - I was afraid that was just a pregnancy perk! But anyway...here is what everyone wants to see :)

The two sisters....Katie on the left and Maggie on the right



All three snug as a bug!

Wylie

Maggie

Katie