Boo Boo Boo! A Triplet Halloween!

Unfortunately this year we were unable to host our annual Halloween party.  We are a little too busy and I can't even fathom getting all of the Halloween decorations down from the attic.  Just thinking about it makes me sleepy.  However... this year I got to take my kids to the pumpkin patch and dress them up for the first time.  So much fun and my girls are so darn cute.

 

And now, in their Halloween pajamas... (They were loving the camera this day)

 

 

Happy Mallory.

 

And for Halloween, the girls dressed as Mini M&M's.  (Mom and Dad were regular sized).

 

 

 

The girls with their grandparents



Our little M&M family.  What a great life I have :)



Triple Play: 4 Months

How old?  4 Months.
 

Our weights? S: 11 lbs. 6 oz.  T: 11 lbs. 11 oz. M: 11 lbs. 4 oz.
The girls are wearing 0-3 months and 3 months.  A few newborn clothes still fit depending on the brand.
 

Our sleeping patterns?  We have all slept 12 hours straight at night!!!  Amazing, I'm so proud of my little 4 month olds.  They don't do it consistently but about every 3rd night they sleep through the night.  If they wake up, it is between 3 and 5 AM and it may only be 1 or 2 babies.  But at the most, we only have to do one feeding during the night which is a huge improvement from those first couple of months.  The girls also take about a 2 hour nap in the morning and a 2 hour nap in the afternoon.  We try to keep them awake in the evening, however they may take a 30 minute cat nap before the long sleep at night.
 

Our eating schedule? We eat every 4 hours.  My goal is to start at 8:30 AM then again at 12:30 PM, 4:30 PM, and then about 7:30/8 PM.  They can't quite make it 4 hours the final feed of the day.  I think it is mostly because they are tired.  They also get rice cereal in their milk before bedtime (for reflux).
 

Our favorite foods? Breast milk.

 

Our likes?  Swings during nap time, our pacifiers, and milk.  S: Sleep, lying on her tummy, waking up in the mornings, and Daddy's funny faces.  T: Looking in the mirror, grabbing toys and bringing them to her mouth, mobiles, and tummy time.  M:  Being held and being able to see everything around her, she wants all of the attention, she also likes rattles and lights.
 

Our dislikes? Being put down and poopy diapers.
 

Our favorite games/toys?  Our favorite play time is in the morning after our first feeding.  The girls are always so happy and this is when I get some good pictures.  They play with their toys that make noise or light up.  They have begun looking and cooing at each other which is so cute.  They like to sit in their bumbos so they can see more or lie on their backs in the play gyms.  Also, the bouncers occupy them while Mommy cleans or cooks (or blogs).
 

Our milestones?  S: She rolled from her tummy to her back, brings her hands to her mouth, and imitates your voice.  She is doing a better job at holding up her head.  T: She is reaching for toys with intention and grasping them.  She is so close to giggling but hasn't quite got it yet.  M:  She imitates sounds you make and looks at her sisters.  She has been rolling from her back to her tummy and bringing her hands to her mouth.

Things we do to make Mom and Dad smile?  Smile at us, look at us in the mirror and smile, cute faces we make, when we sleep through the night, and when we do something new.

Our pictures

 

My Girls

Samantha (Sam, Sammy, Sweet Sam)
 

Our first born.  She has been strong from the beginning.  She was also the first baby we were able to hold.  A head full of hair... so unexpected but O so cute.  In the NICU she liked to sleep which has continued to be true.  She was our calm sleeper at home during the first month or so.  Until she began having acid reflux, she is now a little more fussy but still loves to sleep.  When you put her on her tummy, she normally dozes off but recently she has been trying to lift her head a little.  She just started rolling over and wiggling her arms and legs when she plays.  She snuggles up so sweetly after she eats even though it is supposed to be play time and it is so hard to peel her off and keep her awake.  The mornings are my favorite time of day.  Mostly because the girls are so happy.  Sam especially.  She has been known to sleep for 10-12 hours and wake up with a huge smile on her face, just ready for the day.  I love the way she smiles at her Daddy.  It melts my heart.  Sam has always been really laid back and most of the time just goes with the flow.  She can typically be pretty patient while she waits for her turn to eat.  She loves her red dog wubbanub (pacifier) and has also started liking to put soft things on her cheeks.  At about 6 weeks old, we discovered she had an allergy to dairy and now at about 3.5 months an allergy to soy.  By Mama avoiding these foods, she is a much happier baby (and has less rashes).  She is affected the most by her acid reflux and seems very uncomfortable sometimes after she spits up.  We call her the silent spitter-upper though because she secretly does it when you don't notice for a few minutes.  Poor baby.  Sam, my precious Sam, I love you so much!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taylor (Tay Tay, Taylor Tot, Tootin Taylor, Twisty Taylor, My Piglet, Spazz Monkey)

 

A little lazy from the beginning with her eating.  She stayed in the NICU one day longer than her sisters.  She was smart though, and realized that she could just get her food through a tube rather than having to work at eating.  She makes the cutest noises and also the most unladylike noises.  I'll never forget the squeaking noise she made the first time I held her.  It brought tears to my eyes, it was the sweetest thing I had ever heard.  She continues to make that noise when she sleeps.  I leave the monitor on at night towards Taylor so I can fall asleep to her precious snores.  On the other far end of the spectrum, she has the loudest, smelliest farts and burps.  The girls all eat the same thing, but her baby toots are just so stinky.  Also, she burps louder than any other baby and most adults.  It makes me giggle every time because you would never believe someone so tiny can make so much noise.  Taylor is also our wiggler.  She is capable of staying awake a little longer than her sisters and just stays constantly moving, which is probably why she eats the most now.  She lifts her head so high and keeps it there while on her tummy.  She was the first to swing her arms towards toys and loves to sit in the bumbo.  She does really well at occupying herself and really only cries when she is hungry and she wants food NOW.  She may wine or yell for her pacifier but soothes herself pretty well.  This is good when she has two needy sisters.  Taylor is growing like a weed and is beginning to pass up the other girls.  She loves to look at herself in a mirror and smiles so big sometimes.  I just know a little giggle will come out any day.  I can't wait to hear my babies laugh.  Taylor has been lucky enough to not have any allergies or acid reflux (so far).  She is able to eat all of that milk I had stored up in the freezer that Mallory and Sam can't eat now.  One of the many perks of having triplets.  She did have a clogged tear duct for about a week but it didn't seem to bother her one bit.  She also is the spitting image of her Daddy as a baby.  Taylor, my baby with a thousand nicknames, I love you (and all of your sweet noises)!

 

Mallory (Mal Mal, Mal, My Gerber Baby)

Born last and the smallest but definitely our overachiever.  She pulled out her feeding tube in the NICU and never had to have it put back.  She ate well and would have probably gone home sooner from the NICU if she was not a triplet (they like to keep them together).  Since getting home, she has been the first to do almost everything.  First to roll from tummy to back, first (and only so far) to roll from back to tummy, first to track objects, and hold her head up on her own.  She is so observant and wants to be held so she can see what is going on around her.  Mallory also has her moments.  She is smart enough to know that if she cries, someone might come pick her up.  When you are trying to sooth her in the middle of the night, she finds that nook in your neck and presses her head up against you.  It is so hard to put her down after she turns so sweet and snuggly.  She also knows when she is tired and declares it is nap time (by crying).  Once you lay her in the swing for a nap, she falls right to sleep.  She is not a fan of changing clothes and loves to be dramatic about it.  To me, she looks just like the Gerber Baby.  I love that when I walk in a room or she hears my voice, a huge grin comes on her face and her blueberry eyes light up.  Poor Mallory has also had some yucky times... when she was about 6 weeks old we found out she had an allergy to dairy and then at about 3.5 months we found out she had an allergy to soy.  That means no dairy or soy for this Mama.  She also developed an umbilical hernia which worsened but has since improved drastically.  She had a clogged tear duct right before 2 months old that kept discharging yellow yucky stuff.  And to top it all off, she also has acid reflux.  She can be a bit dramatic at times, but Mallory is cute as a button when she has your attention.  She likes to look at lights and is beginning to bring toys or blankets to her mouth.  Mallory Ann, I love you with all of my heart!

 



My Life as a Triplet Mommy

Amongst the dirty diapers, feedings, playtime, and snuggles... I have failed to keep my blog updated on how our family has adjusted to having triplets.  I want this blog to look back on many years down the road so it reminds me how my life was at this very moment.  If you know me, you know my memory is not the best.  That is why I take soooo many pictures and scrapbook/make photo books. 

 

I've shared the triplets' birth story as well as how they have grown and changed the past 3 months, but I really haven't shared how I am surviving as a new triplet Mommy. 

 

First of all, I need to thank my Mother-In-Law and my parents for all of the nights (and days) they have gotten us through.  My MIL stays every Sunday, Thursday, and Friday night.  She has been such a huge help these past 3 months.  I do have to say it is all kinda foggy due to the lack of sleep but I know we couldn't have done it without her.  My parents are here whenever I mention we may or may not need someone.  They are so willing to help and I know their schedules are busy as well.  I'm so glad all of the grandparents are getting to spend so much time with their grandbabies.  And I'm sure they are happy about it as well.

 

We have also received help from so many other generous people.  Steph, Beau, Jen, Joyce, Pam, Sandra, Lindsey, Marion, Leila, Aunt Becky, Jennifer and Ann.  These people have generously given their time to help our family and we are so thankful.  I know people like to play with babies but sometimes 3 babies can be a bit overwhelming and I'm just so blessed to have those willing to help us through these tough months.  We also have had a night nanny once or twice per week since the girls came home.  I told her last week we didn't really need her anymore since the girls have been sleeping so much better (I may regret this, but we will see).  She was amazing though... she would arrive at 9 PM and Brian and I could close our door and get some rest until 7 AM.  I always looked forward to her coming.

I have to say that me and the girls are falling in to somewhat of a routine.  Not necessarily a schedule, but a routine.  They wake up somewhere between 7 and 9 AM (or we try to hold them off to eat until then).  Then playtime for about an hour then nap.  While they nap, I try to quickly start some laundry and dishes and then go pump.  The next feeding normally starts about 4 hours after the first feeding of the day... playtime, then long nap (I pump and try to nap also).  The third feeding is also four hours later and then we try to keep those girlies up as long we can.  This time of day is tricky for us and we still haven't found what works best.  This is when Brian gets home from work, Ryley wants to play, I need to pump again, we want to eat dinner, and the girls start getting fussy.  Needless to say... the girls normally win the battle and poor Ryley has to wait to get played with.  If we are really lucky though, Brian and I can sit and eat dinner together (doesn't happen often or we may have a baby on one of our laps and a bouncer sitting in front of us).  They normally don't make it four hours here before they want to be fed again... anywhere between 2.5 and 3.5 hours.  After they eat, it is bed time.  Every third night they get baths and again, we haven't found our "groove" for when this fits in best to the night time routine.  We will get there though... eventually. It seems once we have found some stability in a schedule, the girls' needs change and the schedule needs to change with them. 

The girls aren't too hard to get to sleep.  At least in my eyes.  Brian may think differently.  Some nights they go down and we may have to just go in there 1-2 more times before everyone is fast asleep.  Other nights, it may be upwards of 10-15 times or someone just hangs out in there to put pacifiers in and pat to sleep.  We use these stuffed seahorse glow things that the girls love.  They are mesmerized by the lights and the music they make.  Once the girls are asleep, we clean up the house and get ourselves ready for bed (I pump again).  They have been making it to around 4 AM before waking up again... so about 7-9 hours depending on when their last feeding was.  I think this is pretty darn good for 3 month old triplets.  I'm glad they like to sleep even though I still don't get continuous sleep.  I get up between 2 and 3 to pump again.  I go back to sleep for like an hour and then get up to feed them around 4.  They normally go back to sleep really easily this time.  Then I set my alarm and cross my fingers I'll have time to shower and pump before they wake up in the morning around 8. 

Then repeat.

My goal is to get them to 4 feedings per day (we are at 5 now, sometimes 6) and sleeping 12 hours at night.  We are working towards this and getting close.  Each of the girls have slept 10+ hour stretches... just not all at the same time, and not consistently.  I'm optimistic that this schedule isn't too far away.

My life is busy, busy, busy.  It has definitely gotten more manageable.  When we brought them home, it was so unpredictable when they were going to eat or when they would wake up.  There were a lot of sleepless nights.  I was averaging about 3-5 hours during the first 6 weeks and that was with help.  I can't imagine how we would have made it during that time without help.  I know there was one particular night that my Mom didn't go to sleep until 6:30 AM and I'm sure it happened to my MIL at some point as well.

Through all of the sleepless nights, diaper blow-outs, spit up, and fussiness... I wouldn't change a thing.  Being a mother is so incredible and I absolutely love taking care of my triplets.  I remind myself when they are crying in the middle of the night and I'm having to get up over and over, I'll never get this night back.  My girls are growing so fast and I want to enjoy every second I have with them even if its in the middle of the night.  There are frustrating times, don't get me wrong, like when I just want to scream, "Keep the pacifier in your mouth!" but I just look at their cute little faces and think to myself how lucky Brian and I are.  We are so lucky.  I do struggle with feeling guilty about not spending enough time with each of our daughters individually.  I feed one and she may be in a super cute mood and smiley and I want to just snuggle and play with her, but her sisters are waiting patiently to be fed as well.  I must put baby #1 down to feed babies #2 and then #3.  We try to get in group playtime and especially when I have help, I try to spend some one-on-one time with each of them.  I'm sure this is something we will have to balance for the rest of their lives.

Well, they are waking up from their nap so I will end this.  Moral of the story... I LOVE being a Triplet Mommy :)