Let's eat!

I sometimes feel like the triplets live in their table.  They are getting the hang of table foods and their menu today included ricotta pancakes, blueberries, yogurt, aidell's chicken hot dogs, peas, bananas, pasta wheels, carrots, watermelon and lots and lots of cherrios and puffs. We are still dealing with some texture issues but overall they have made a lot of progress.

 Less baby food (purees), more food, more mess!!!

Marcos after dinner making his new funny face!

Marcos loves food!  I think he will try anything and is quite fast at feeding himself when he is hungry.

And now pictures of Carlitos...notice the clip, he won't keep his bib on!!  

Carlos is still working on his pincer grasp, but it does not slow him down.  The advantage...he lets mama feed him more than the other two.

 Sofia was already in the tub. So far she has been the pickiest with foods, textures and new tastes.  

Maybe a little bit of big sis in her.  She likes to be in control and is very observant as to what goes in her mouth.  They all eat very differently which is fun to watch.
Most of the time its fun feeding three and a lot easier than feeding Isabella at this age and even now!

The trio is also eating:

ground turkey and beef, some chicken, carrots, peas, corn, beans, tofu, potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, edemame, egg yolk, toast, 

pears, peaches, grapes, cherries, 

mum mums, crackers

Suggestions on what else to try?

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.

Finally an update

Today the triplets are 96 days old. How I wish I could have had the time and energy to blog about everything they have been through...but since we cannot turn back time, I will start with today.

They will soon be home! We can see the end to the NICU journey, and we are getting things ready.
We have 3 cribs, 2 swings, 2 car seats (yes, we need one more) a new mini van! lots and lots of clothes, diapers, blankets, hats, bibs and so much more. Mom and dad are working on the room, putting curtains up and washing and cleaning as much as we can. We still cannot believe how generous people have been. We are so thankful for every gift, whether its new or used. We are grateful for everything that has been given to us!

This past week:
Tuesday: Lemonade party for Big Sister's Kinder class
Wednesday: First day of Kinder!!

 
Thursday: Sofia's eye laser surgery
Friday: The boys' hernia surgery. The surgeries kept getting pushed back and the boys were starving. It was so hard, the IV fluids started around 6am and the surgeries were not until early evening. They could not eat all day long. Thankfully, our nurses did a great job in holding and trying to comfort them.

All the surgeries went well. Sofia recovered very quickly, while the boys are still a bit sleepy.

On this 96th day, I am missing my babies. I stayed home from the hospital to finish organizing their room. I think we are ready! No nursing today but lots of pumping. Mama's pumping about 45 oz of breast milk a day!!! and I need more!!