August 28

August 28.

The triplets' due date.  Not sure I'll ever forget that date.  I think most preemie mamas can relate.

In a perfect world, that's when (or around this date) they should have been born.  But instead, they arrived 3 1/2 months early.  In my eyes, they are finally and officially two years old! They've come so far!  

They are walking, running, talking, eating, growing and keeping this mama extremely busy.

Happy Homecoming day Marcos, Sofia, (August 23, 2011) and Carlos (August 27, 2011)!! But most importantly...

Happy Due Date birthday!!!!

I often wonder if these dates will always be a part of me, I'm sure others do too.
 You look at my kiddos, and unless you know what we have been through, you would never know.  They are thriving and look perfectly healthy and normal (for lack of a better word).  And then, I come across articles like this ONE and I'm reminded that they truly are miracles and our lives could have been completely different.  So I'll say it again...

Happy Homecoming days!! Happy Due Date Birthday!!

One day you will understand why these dates are so important to us!

Picture Time...

Marcos

Sofia

The trio...Carlitos in the middle.

Sofia, always so serious, just like Isabella at this age.  She really is having fun! 

Brothers!! Sitting is a challenge for these two, they prefer standing and climbing on chairs. 

We celebrated with some frozen yogurt yesterday after picking up Big Sis from school, 2nd grade! Can't hardly believe it...and so happy the school routine has quickly fallen into place!

The trio is napping, and I'm enjoying the silence, plus trying to make dinner, fold laundry and working on invites for  Isabella's birthday party that is quickly approaching.

Hope to post again soon!

Making Valentines

Last year, we made heart crayons for Isabella's Valentines...

This year...trying to plan ahead... 

I did my Pinterest search for Valentines Day early (or I thought)...

Perhaps you've seen these Valentines "You Rock" or the "You are Alright"

 So cute! 

I didn't want to give Big Sis too many ideas or she'd have a hard time deciding or want me to keep searching...and yes she knows what Google is!

I was kind of excited, these were so cute and we wouldn't be handing out candy hehehe...but then one night she says, "Mom we don't have to do those, we can just come up with our own design!!"

And just like that my Pinterest bubble was busted!  I even offered to buy them!! How easy would that be?

But the excitement in her eyes convinced me to let her "design" her own Valentine.

We even took a trip to Michael's with the trio in the choo choo wagon last Monday.

Timing was perfect because that very same day we got the info that we needed 29 Valentine's.  She was responsible for writing her friends' names and signing her own.  We were warned to start right away!

So instead we folded, she wrote, we stamped and stuck stickers on...

I think the fun lasted one or two days, then they became a chore.  Luckily letting her pick out the treat for her friends over the weekend brought back the excitement.  

We still have 11 more to do...And someday we'll have about 90 to do! 

This can end...NOW!

Our 2013 started out okay, much better than 2012.

Around this time last year, my little Sofia was fighting RSV.  She spent 2 nights in the hospital and her wheezing lasted all winter long.   You can read a post from last January here.

Two weekends ago, we made the switch to big kid car seats.  No more infant carriers.  We even did forward facing. We went back and forth on this, but the kiddos' legs were a bit squished.
Big kid car seats...a milestone!

 Boys in the front!

 Girls in the back!

 Carlitos

 Maquitos

 Sofita

  Good thing.  I had the great idea of trying them out prior to me being solo during the week to make sure the straps were on correctly, etc...So we ventured out on Sunday afternoon and not too long after leaving our house, I looked back, and Marcos was quietly throwing up while the car was moving (and all over the new car seat cover!)  Since his seat was facing forward, I was able to get back there quicker.  We thought perhaps he got car sick.  So we cleaned him up as well as the car, and continued with our outing.

Yes, we are brave.

We walked around downtown and decided to try out a sit down restaurant. It was late afternoon, after the lunch rush but before dinner time. We have gone out to eat before but they were much younger and could stay in the car seat/stroller...so having all 3 of them sit in a high chair was another milestone. We ate fast and managed to get out fairly quick. As soon as we got back in the car again... Marcos does it again. Coincidence.... Not! We managed to get home, Dad hung out with Marcos while I did the night routine with the other 2.  My sweet boy threw up who knows how many times. He was completely wiped out and managed to only wake once that night.




This picture was taken after his first episode, notice his shirt is missing? Not sure how my lil guy was still smiling.



Then that Tuesday night right before bed time...Sofia coughs, then throws up.  She does this now and again, if she coughs right after taking a bottle.  I nervously put her to bed not knowing if she caught the bug Marcos had or what.  Sure enough, about 20 minutes later she was still awake screaming and crying. Good thing we went in her room right away.  My Sofie was covered in throw up and so was her crib.

We took her out of the room and held her for a few hours.  The throwing up went on for about 5 hours.  She had nothing left so she dry heaved A LOT!  Sofia was still doing this when we hear screams from their room again.  Good thing I didn't give them the 5 minutes to settle.  I rushed in there to find little Carlos covered in throw up.  My poor babies! I think Carlos was up from midnight to about 5am.  At one point, both of them did it at the same time.  Thank God this happened at night because what would I have done alone?  Daddy was a true rock star, especially because I couldn't tell if the nauseousness I felt was from the awful smell or if I was also getting sick.  When the chills started I knew it was my turn.

We got very little sleep that night, if any at all.  Before we knew it the sun was coming out and it was time to rush Isabella to school.  Can anyone say late pass?!

This sickness caused the trio to miss a dentist appointment and our high risk follow up appointment, which I was very sad to miss. The trio was left with very little appetite and lots of diarrhea, but really we are lucky the vomiting only lasted one night because once I began to feel better it was daddy's turn to get sick.  At least we take turns, right?

So Isabella was the only lucky one to not get it.  I thought we were in the clear...and Sunday she began getting a sore throat.  The babies had their 4th Synagis shot of the season yesterday so since we were already  going to the doctors, I had her checked out as well...fast forward to today....

Strep throat!!! She's been home all week and I've managed to go up and down the stairs numerous times taking turns between the four.  I miss my helper!! and she misses her babies.  She's been quarantined to her room, and I really HATE winter.

Praying no one else gets sick cuz I'm feeling like I can't handle so much sickness especially back to back.  And my mind automatically sees it hitting their preemie lungs, chronic coughing all night and nebulizer treatments, talk about anxiety! Now we know why this post took over a week! And why our house still has some Christmas decorations up.

Swimming Class

Remember this post, the very first day I had to pack up the trio to watch sissy swim...

Here we are again wrapping up the last 2 week session.  We survived it, almost 3 months of swimming class.  And Big Sis is now a swimmer.  This week may be our last for awhile.  She starts first grade on Wednesday! First grade, I can't even believe it! 

I'm not about to attempt a 2:35 school pick up and an afternoon swimming class, so we are taking a break, settling in to a school routine before we pick up another extra curricular activity.

Hosted by Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious?

Sunday Fun Day!

Sunday was family fun day and full of many firsts. 

We were all in the car by 9:40 am. 

I didn't pump or put my make up in in car. Two of my not so favorite things to do. 

We headed to Howarth Park in Santa Rosa, we were there early and got a great parking spot. 

Our day included the trio's first ride down the slide on big sister's lap, our first train ride as a family and sofias first swing ride. 

Sofie and Carlos also rode the merry go round while big boy Marcos decided to take a nap. 

We enjoyed our picnic and watching Isabella run through the splash pad. 

Today was also the first time I wasn't worried about a schedule. 

We are getting really good at outings, they are so strategically planned and the schedule almost happens naturally.  And if someone decides not to follow it, then oh well, they somehow get back on it.  

The only bad thing about today...the battery on my phone died and I only got a few pictures.  Oh and I can't forget the stranger who offered to hold a triplet as we were getting settled in the train.  The triplet attention we get will soon need its own post!

Stamping with Bella

Most of my posts are about the trio but this one will focus on Big Sis.  My special big girl. She is off from school, we have survived one month, only about 6 more weeks to go. I won't lie, its been a bit rough. Taking care of the three takes a lot of physical energy, while Bella requires much of my brain. We have done our best and continue to do so.  I often feel guilty about what the micro preemie trio experience has done to her. She has handled it so well.  But I wish I could give her more of me. She still needs her mommy. I try and remind myself of this often.
I wish her comments like "No one likes me, no one is paying attention to me, not fair, you are nicer to the babies..." and on and on would not get to me as much as they do.  Sometimes I find myself feeling angry and other days just plain hurt.  I explain to her we are doing the best we can and I know she gets it but she is still only five.  Most days are okay.  I even get the "You are the best mommy in the world" and I really love it when she says "You are amazing because you take care of me and three babies." 
Love my girl, even when she makes me feel a little bit crazy.

The other day Isabella and I had a great day. During morning nap, we worked on some stamping and writing.  I am realizing summer is speeding by and activities to improve her writing have been so few.  For some reason, using the word journal is a big turn off these days. I'm having to get creative super creative. We stamped some bunnies, bears, butterflies and balloons while she wrote out the words in her best kinder (almost 1st grade) writing.  


We both had fun and the rest of the day seemed to flow a lot smoother than others. If only I could do it every day...maybe I will.  Picture time.

Another Monday

Our Monday is almost over and I am exhausted!  Just when I think things are looking up health wise...someone new has a fever!!
It's Isabella's turn! I am praying this is a quick 24 hour thing.  We took her to the doctor and she was swabbed for strep throat but hopefully it's just a virus.  She has been quarantined to her room! Who knows if that will make a difference but we can't have the trio get sick again.  Sofia is sounding really good, almost now wheezing whatsoever.  She has been very active these last few days. Lots of rolling, talking, exploring and observing everything.  The boys are happy babies during the day but congestion and coughing are still waking them up.  This morning there was only one baby in our room, so things are slowly getting easier.

It was a tough Monday! I had this great idea to try and change the babies' schedule to see if we can go from 3 short naps to 2 long ones.  This means more awake time and somehow one bottle gets eliminated.  Major changes!  Needless to say, it was an exhausting day.  I think my plan backfired and having Isabella home threw me off.
Oh well, we'll try again tomorrow and if they are not ready for it, we can always go back to the old routine.
Isabella got a hold of mommy's phone last week and snapped a few pics!

Hosted by Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious?

10 month update

On March 17, the babies turned 10 months (adjusted age: 6 months, 2 weeks and 4 days to be exact!! I was cuddling a baby that morning at around the time they were born (4am) just thinking about the day they were born...

Weight Check
Carlos-13 lbs. 9 oz
Marcos-14 lbs. 14 oz
Sofia-14 lbs. 4 oz

All three are smiling and laughing and are quite ticklish.  All three are thriving and all of their doctors are so happy with their progress.  We had our first developmental follow up appointment on February 25 with our NICU and it went great.  I was a bit nervous but was happy to hear all their positive comments.
I realized that they can do more than I give them credit for.  I guess that comes with the multiples territory. My forgetfulness and/or lack of individualized attention and time.
All three are reaching for things, tracking big and small objects, holding toys, starting to transfer from one hand to the other....All three can roll from their tummy to their back, and with a lot of encouragement they can roll from their back to their tummy.  It doesn't happen too often but I know that they can do it. They are still figuring out what to do with their arms and tolerating tummy time more and more each day.  Sofia is able to move her arms and legs while on her tummy.  She is very curious and wants to touch everything.  Everything is so exciting to watch.  They can be entertained for a few minutes with different toys and they are starting to sit on their own for a few seconds at a time. We have lots cooing and some babbling, they definitely let us know when they don't like something.  They are getting better at solids each day.  Sofia is definitely more alert than the boys and wants to grab everything in sight.  They are receiving physical therapy once a week and our PT is very optimistic about their development and progress.  She is happy with their muscle tone and movement so far.  As of today, she has no major concerns and is very helpful in explaining that micro preemies often have their own timeline and how they often do not follow developmental milestones in order.

Unfortunately, we have been dealing with lots of sickness since the beginning of the year and Sofia's hospitalization for RSV.  This includes lots of wheezing and coughing disturbing everyone's sleep.  We had gotten to the point where ALL three were sleeping through the night but now that awful cough seems to wake one, two sometimes all three at around 2 or 3 am.  Mommy and Daddy have been trying to juggle everything plus quite a few doctors' appointments, breathing treatments, and inhalers with little sleep.  Marcos also has a bad case of thrush that lasted way too long and Nystatin (medicine prescribed) did nothing.  Just this week we were prescribed Fluconazole and I am praying this gets rid of it for good.  Poor guy screamed each time his cheek was swabbed. Never did I know I would become such an expert in administering medicine.
Ending on a positive note...Grandma and Grandpa got the trio the triplet table and on they tried it out on their 10 month birthday!

We are so proud of Isabella for being such a great big sis.  She has become such a good helper and our official diaper stocker and often does her chore without being reminded!

Lunch with Daddy

Have I mentioned how smart Big Sis is?

Last week, she came up with the idea that we should visit daddy at work before Grandma and Grandpa leave and so we did.  We headed out to Skywalker Ranch on Friday afternoon...we had a nice lunch, just the three of us and she loved every minute of it. Then it was her idea to take some pictures.

 Proudly wearing her Master Yoda shirt

 Mommy and Me pictures finally!!

Hosted by Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious?

Bath time

When I'm on my own, bath time goes a little something like this....

 First we bathe the girls.  Sometimes Big Sis lets me take Sofie out and then she finishes by taking a shower and washing her hair.  I can't use her shampoo and conditioner in the same bath as Sofia's because it's not the baby kind.  However most times Big Sis likes to get out at the same time and we wash next time.

Then it's PJ time!

Then we undress the boys...

And get them in the bath...

Then more Pajama Time...

And some cuddles...

This looks quite peaceful here but for me, it is far from it.  I move very fast, you have to, I enjoy about 2 minutes or so with each kiddo.  When you have triplets you have to move fast.  All 4 bathed and dressed in an hour.  My back hurts each time and but feel so accomplished afterwards. 

This was about 3 weeks ago...I now have to come up with a new plan since Mr. Big Boy (aka Marcos) has decided not to stay still and kick and splash so much that I can no longer do the two at the same time.  Too scary and not safe.  I see bath seats in our future.