Thanksgiving weekend

Thanksgiving sure was different this year.  A bit hard to enjoy the turkey when you have 3 screaming babies.  I don't think they screamed more than they usually do, maybe a bit since Marcos is sick but I guess we have not tried to actually sit at the table since they have been home.  Our Thanksgiving dinner (cooked by my mother in law) lasted 10 minutes before one, two and three babies needed something. I kinda  had a feeling.

To be honest, I really wasn't in the mood.  I was feeling a bit homesick.  This is my first Thanksgiving in CA away from family and friends, and I felt it.   

It was impossible to get all three babies awake and happy for a picture all day long. 

They all took turns sleeping...the cons of having no schedule yet for this trio. 

But I was happy to at least get some pics with their Thanksgiving clothes on.

And some pics with mommy...these are rare.  There are only so many days I actually get fully ready and put make up on.

And so the holiday season begins...not sure what to expect.  This is the first black Friday I have missed in a long time.  I missed it.  I even gave it some thought...would sacrificing the little sleep I get be worth the door busters? I decided against it.  Besides Bella and Marcos were still coughing a lot.  And I started feeling sick that night. Sickness plus 3 months of little sleep and crying babies did not allow us to get the Christmas tree out this weekend.  Weeks like this past one make me feel that it may be somewhat of an impossible task. I have absolutely no down time...Ok, I cannot start complaining.  God help me not sweat the small stuff and give strength and patience to get through each day.

It's really hard for me to get in front of the camera but participating in Mommy and Me Monday has gotten me some great pics that I will treasure forever!

Won't you join us?

Hosted by Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious?

Kermit the frog

Isabella meets Kermit for the first time...

Five years ago...

 

Now, it's Sofia's turn!

She's not so sure...

Sisters having fun!

Thanksgiving 2011

Carlos, Marcos and Sofia,

On this Thanksgiving Day and every day, I am thankful that you were born with such might and ready to fight, you can finally breathe all by yourself after all those attempts. I thank God everyday your lungs allow you to finally cry.  I am thankful you can see, you can hear and you have good muscle tone.  I am thankful all of your surgeries were a success.  I am thankful you like to eat, your weight gain has amazed us all.

I am thankful…for the strength God gave us to get through all the ups and downs of  your NICU stay, for our family and friends' support, generosity and kindness, for everyone that has come into our lives after your birth, for every doctor and every nurse that has taken care of you since the day you arrived.

I am thankful for every person who has helped feed, change, burp and hold you, for every smile you give me and for every sound you make, especially your coos and ga-goos, for our snuggles and all the kisses you let me give you, for your smell, even when you’ve spit up all of mommy's milk.

I am thankful for your daddy who loves me unconditionally and for your sister who understands so much...I am thankful you have made me such a strong person, a better person and overall a better mom.

I am thankful God gave all three of you to me; our family is now complete. 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! And thank you for reading our blog! Hope to post a pic of our three little turkeys later.

Check out one of my favorite blogs, Life with Jack, for her Thanksgiving Post!

Doctor, Doctor

I'm kind of freaking out a bit! I think the trio is getting sick! This could mean really bad news for this mama.  I'm trying to stay calm, I know the hubby thinks I'm over reacting but let me tell you that I've been cringing each time big sis coughs.  It started a few days ago, a few sniffles here and there but now it has developed into one of her full blown asthma episodes.  This mama is way too familiar with the nebulizer, pulmacort and albuterol and I think I might just lose it if the trio gets sick.

I've heard my little guys cough, little coughs but it's still a cough! And Mr. Big Boy (aka Marcos) was not himself in the eating department.  He can down 4 oz and want more in 2 to 3 hours but not today, he's been snacking all day long, 2 ounces here and there and boy was he fussy.  And little Carlitos sounds a little stuffy to me...about three times today, I took of his shirt and stared hard at his chest. I get so nervous sometimes, I'm not too sure I know what I'm looking for but maybe his breathing was a little bit different.

Have I mentioned I was so looking forward to this week?  This was the week I have been waiting for!  The trio has been home for almost 3 months and can you believe this was going to be the first week I did not have a doctor's appointment scheduled? I'm sure only because of the holiday cuz they start back up next week.  Every week they have been home, I have visited one, sometimes two or three doctor offices.  Some days it was weight checks while other days ROP checks or hearing tests.  This was going to be my week, my week off from appointments but we can all guess who I will be calling in the morning.  Say a little prayer for us.  I am terrified of RSV and I don't think it is humanly possible to take the three and big sis at the same time.  I might just have to split up the party and make two trips to the doctor. FUN!

World Prematurity Day

Today is World Prematurity Day, a wonderful day to celebrate the trio's half birthday.
Six months ago our lives were turned upside down...At merely 25 weeks gestation, our triplets were born.

Triplet A: Carlos Alberto weighed 1 lb, 4.1 oz

Triplet B:  Marcos Alberto weighed 1lb, 4.8 oz

Triplet C:  Sofia Maria weighed 1 lb, 2.3 oz

I quickly learned that my babies fell into a special category.  They were not just premature but were considered micro preemies; meaning they weighed less than 800 grams and born before 26 weeks gestation.

Today I am so blessed to have 3 healthy miracle babies home.

Will we ever forget?

Prematurity has touched our lives significantly.  I wonder if it will ever be a thing of the past.  I have become a bit obsessed reading information and blogs about premature babies.  As I write this, I struggle with the fact that my kiddos already have a label.  I sometimes think I should remove myself completely from the preemie world.  After all, the more I read and the more knowledge I gain, the more I anxiously await their future.  There has to be a balance. Some stories bring me fear while others give me hope. 

As a mom I will never forget the first time I laid my eyes on them.  Those first few hours of their lives, those first few days, those first few weeks will always be a part of me.  I have never felt so much uncertainty.  Not knowing what each day would bring is the worse feeling.

I will always remember what my babies looked like with tubes and IVs fighting to survive.  I wish beeping sounds would not remind me of their monitors and machines their lives were dependent on. I wish I could forget the days my babies turned "dusky" on me and the ups and downs of the NICU.

It just was not fair for my babies to come into the world so early and to experience such trauma.  I look at them now, and I am blessed.  They are doing so well.  I feel fortunate.  Our NICU experience included a long intubation for all three also knows as Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD), or chronic lung disease, 3 PDA ligations, 3 lasic surgeries for ROP and 2 inguinal hernia repairs.  Now I know that all of this is quite common in the micro preemie world.   I also know not everyone is as fortunate as us.  I think of the baby girl in our room who did not make it.  I pray for that family and for everyone affected by premature births. 

The one thing this whole experience has taught me is not to question God's plan.  I pray every day for patience and strength to accept everything and anything He puts in front of us.

Below are some pictures of their first few days...

And here they are today:

Triplet A: Carlos Alberto weighs10 lbs 4 oz

Triplet B:  Marcos Alberto weighs 11 lbs 9 oz

Triplet C:  Sofia Maria weighs 10 lbs

I love you! You just keep on growing!

Mommy and Me Monday

A very special Mommy and Me Monday...

I think this is the first pic of me with all 4 kiddos!

And the very first pic with my mommy and all the grand kids...

Happy Monday!

Join us!

Hosted by Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious?

My Saturday morning

I love it when one of the babies wakes up before the other two and before Big Sis.

Today it was Carlitos.  He started waking while I was pumping. I had the hubby go in and get him before he woke up the others.  He hung out next to daddy for quite awhile.  Daddy went back to sleep. Carlitos played by himself. I kept pumping. The first am pumping session is a long one, we're talking like 40 min for about 16 oz of breast milk. When I was done, I got back in bed and chatted with my lil guy, even cuddled with daddy for only a few seconds before he started fussing.

I was about to get a bottle ready when thankfully I thought, let's nurse, not sure how much he will get but it's worth a try.  It doesn't happen very often, they mostly get expressed milk in a bottle.  He had a hard time latching on, he was mad and squirmy and I'm pretty sure I was more on the empty side; but, I just kept switching from side to side until he drifted away to dreamland.  My camera was nearby and managed to get these shots.

Carlitos was my sickest one in the NICU.  He was on a ventilator for about 2 1/2 months, maybe even longer.  He was the last one to receive breast milk through a feeding tube due to medications.  The last to nurse.  He didn't get as much mommy time so I'm always amazed at the fact that he can do it.  He is quite good at it when he wants to be.

This morning we got some good cuddling time.  There is not enough of that around here.  One of the downfalls of having multiples.  I always feel like we gotta rush through it all.  Awake, diaper change, feed, burp, and pray they go back to sleep.  Then it starts back up again.  After awhile I put Carlitos in the swing.  I knew chaos was about to begin.  It is getting a bit easier as they get older.  We are noticing a lot more awake time, and happy awake time is the best.  Lots of smiles, and cooing.  We love it.  Great way to start the weekend.

Flashback Friday-Sofia

Taken July 2, 2011

Big Sister is off from school today (Veteran's Day) so I thought I would post this picture of her visiting Little Sister while still in the NICU.  Big Sis was a trooper throughout the NICU stay.  She was shuffled around from friend to babysitter to extra hours at preschool.  It was tough on everyone.  On weekends, she went with us and after spending a few minutes with her siblings, she would be ready to watch movies.  I was finally happy that she could watch television all day long and be entertained.  The nurses often commented on how great she was.  She was so quiet, as if there was no 4 year old sitting in the corner.  We had a great set up that included her own princess chair, her portable DVD player and backpack full of stuff to do.  Most days, movies was all we needed.

I will have to look for the picture the nurses took....

People often ask me what the hardest thing is about having triplets...my response is not having enough time for my five year old and hearing her say it. 

I love you Isabella and I promise this will get easier for all of us!

Great morning!

Daylight savings started yesterday.  Being from AZ, the only state that doesn't participate, it is a pretty crazy concept for us.  The day started a little out of whack, with us not really knowing what time it was and the kids, all 4 of them, waking up around the same time.  So glad it happened on a Sunday and not a weekday.  The day dragged on and on.  To me it felt like it should be later than it was. Daylight savings or not...I think we are turning a corner, reaching a milestone!!!! The boys had a bottle around 6:30pm, and did not need another one until 1am!! 1am!!  And I think they were both asleep by 8:30ish last night.  Sofia is still getting her tummy aches (gas/colic/who knows) but she took a good amount around 8ish and also lasted til 1am!!! We are so very ecstatic!! It gets better. Then after the 1am feeding and lots of burping, they all went down and started waking at 6am!! 6am!! I am doing a happy dance! I was waiting for them to get up, I even pumped prior to them waking! And all three slept in their cribs, the whole time!

We've had a hard time getting them to sleep on their backs so they have all been sleeping in the 

Fisher Price Newborn Rock n Play Sleeper...it looks like this:

But last night, they liked their cribs.  They looked so cute, three babies, three cribs.  And to top it off,big sister woke up in a good mood.
Her sweetness is often hit or miss these days,but it was a very pleasant morning.

The triplets' birth story

And...we finally have the triplet's birth story!

Wordless Wednesday

October 31, 2011

5 1/2 months 

9 weeks adjusted