HUGE accomplishment

so really I only have one second.. but I had to get this out to the world.

I did it!

All by myself!

It took just about four months!

I planned it beautifully!

I feel renewed!

I showered!!!!!!

I did it!

I mean of course I’ve showered before but only while hubby was home and could look after the zoo, but I did it all by myself I showered with three babies and me here all alone – I DID IT! I even blow dried my hair – checky eh?

I’ve finally got the babies on a together napping schedule – not sure if it’ll last long – but I have the morning nap down now, everyone together — the afternoon will come soon too I’m sure!

I’m so excited!! hahah ( sad I know.)

Oh and at 31/2 months my beautiful babies weighed in at 12.5lbs for the gals and big ben is 14lbs !!

I have a minute…

Phew! These minutes are few and far between – but I’m managing to squeeze one in.

Our updates…

Bradley – poor thing last night he was screaming his head off, I’m assuming he had an ear infection – its so nice that now I am no longer practicing veterinary medicine with him and he can actually tell me what’s wrong. I wanted to know if he had hurt his ear – or if infact it was an ear ache. So I asked him – did you hit it somewhere? “No mom, it just came by itself”. Then I said well does the outside of your ear hurt?.. He said no it’s on the inside. Then for about 1 hour he SCREAMED. I have never heard that kid scream like that, not when his teeth went threw his lips, not when the DVD player split open his head, or when he got a black eye it was horrible. So I sent Keith on a mad dash to shoppers for help. I dont know what bedtime is like in your house, but this happened right at bedtime. Screaming triplets and a screaming 4 years old – SCARY. Anyways here I am going back and forth between crib and brad trying to calm everyone down. And then what came next would break ANY moms heart. Bradley has NEVER been jealous of the triplets. He loves thoes babies as much as we do – almost as if he knew how hard we had to work as a family to get them here. He does anything for them and helps ALL the time. Anyways through his tears he managed to mumble – as if he was a hundred years wiser than what he is knowing the stress of raising triplets – “mommy, can you just for a minute lye with me please.”………WELL talk about mommy water works too. My heart just broke, it was as if he knew I was trying SO hard to calm everyone down but he was just in so much pain he just wanted his mommy for a minute. And belive me he got it

Bradley is just the most amazing big brother there is! He has become so helpful (although his independence and self sufficient ways drives me crazy sometimes) he’s such a good big brother. Today he came running to me “Mommy, where are the wipes”… RUGH why do you want the wipes ( he tends to bathe himself in pampers wipes when were not paying attention)…One of the babies had a spit up – okay they’re on the couch – and off he goes to get a wipe and fix the baby all up- WHAT a champ he is!

Now for me – SCREW you scale. Weight loss is not budging. GAH GAH GAH. Anyways I have a plan – I’m not going to go on about it I dont feel like talking about it – but there’s a plan in the works. ESPECIALLY – oh my bloggers I haven’t told you THIS. I went into a local kids clothing store around here – and the sales clerk said to me “oh you must be over due”…UMM NOOOO I had my triplets 11 weeks ago THANKS. Anything nothing gets your ass in gear for weight loss then a comment like that.

The babies are doing well. We’re really starting to figure each other out and things are becoming MUCH more manageable. My crying days are fewer and fewer apart.

Little Milestones to mention:

All are smiling ( have been for awhile)

Benjamin is almost 13lbs and the girls around 12

Benjamin is JUST about to roll over he sort of wobbles on his side

Lauren can raise her entire chest off the ground when lying on her tummy

That’s all for now folks

TRIPLET PHOTOS!!

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Thank you to all my readers for inspiring me, encouraging me, and motiviating me through the life of multiples 

xo 

  

As a one of our chrismtas gift we were given the gift of having three healthy wonderful children I wanted to create a special entry to talk about our photos….. 

We hired Brian from (www.bhphotography.ca) to capture a few photos of our trio. The afternoon went super well - the babes were excellent and the pictures turned out even better! We have vowed to do family shots at least once a year from here on in – I think it’s such a great feeling to see how beautiful your children are – on paper  

We’re having one print blowen up to 16X20 having it custome framed and matted to hang above our fire place! It’s a great feeling to finally be able to do this – Keith and I have talked about having “that picture”… that family picture hanging above our fire place for three years – but there we never the extra little feet to complete our family – this Christmas we finally had all the little feet ( and more! lol) to complete our family picture I’ll be SO proud to hang the picture above our fireplace! 

BIG BIG thank you to Brian who was a super great sport and had tons of patience working with our trio! 

Here are some of the pictures that were taken 

 

Our little Lauren above fast asleep – What a beauty she is! 

 

  

  

 

 

Above: Big Brother Ben with his sisters Alanna ( left) and Lauren 

 

 

If this photo does not represent heaven – I dont know what does

  

  

 

Alanna ( bottom left) Benjamin and Lauren ( top ) 

  

  

PS: Brian gave me a little something extra by letting me publish these photos here, so please check out his website if you have time (www.bhphotography) I bet youll be amazed – hes great!!… ohhh and the best part….There are even more great photos of our family… if you want to check it out http://www.triplets.bhphotography.ca/ feel free !!

  

  

 

  

 

  

The good news is we’ll be landing shortly – the bad news is we’re crash landing

I really have a million more things to do then enter a damn blog post – but for some reason writting is theraputic to me – nevermind the spelling of this post because with screaming babies it’s going to be ultra quick.

Im admitting defeat. I feel like I’ve failed. I want to give up. I cannot find a solution.

I know my readers do NOT know me as this type of person but it’s where I am today. I dont want pitty – I dont want emails, I dont want phone calls I just was my 5 minutes on paper – or computer screen (??) to vent.

I hate being a parent right now. And I paid over 30k to be a parent. Make sense – nope! I hate the ottawa fertility center for letting us transfer 3 eggs, I hate just about everything and everyone right now. I feel terrible terrible terrible for my fertility friends to be reading this and thinking – why why her? – I would have made a better mom – I would love those babies, I’d love being a parent of triplets. Why her – why not me. I know that’s what I’d be thinking if I was reading this post and still suffering from infertility. But have tripelts is a HUGE RIP OFF. I’m not able to sit with my baby to love him/her and cuddle her -it’s production 24/7 there is no loving time there is no cuddle on end – it’s next next next. That’s not what I paid for – that’s not what I worked for. RUGH!!!

Right now with Ben sick ( and I’m sure that’s the root of most of my problems today) I just want to cuddle him and make sure he’s okay. I’ve been awake now for nearly 2 days without much sleep – and as tonight approaches I just want to sleep. I want to go to bed – in my own bed alone- and not worry about him “stopping breathing” ( as the ped told me to do – scaring the shit out of me). I just want to sleep. But if I sleep and something happens then what?… (insert more tears and more sighs here)….And now Alanna – she’s getting sick. How can a mom love and care for 3 sick babies- it’s just not possible – it’s a horrible horrible thing to hear your sick baby cry and not be able to get there fast enough because you have to feed another baby who is so hungry.

There’s no solution to this. None that I can find. If your fat you loose wegiht ( which I’m trying DESPERATLY to do but have no luck as I have no time and I feel that chocolate has become more addicitive than cigarette to me in calming me down – not so good, perhaps I should take up smoking) If you’re poor you get a part time job, if you’re lost you look at a map. If you’re a parent of triplets – your screwed. There is no solution.

I guess there’s “days like this” when you’re a parent of triplets, but I just want this day over. It’s 630 and bed time cannot come fast enough and another day can be gone.

I love my babies SO SO SO much. I just feel like I’m failing them.

I’m failing myself.

And my winter kleenex supply is quickly disapearing.

 The irony of this post – is as I make way upstair for a few quick winks – I’ll press my “easy” button ( from staples) and chuckle….

Is it tomorrow yet?

First Visit to Cheo

-sigh.

Depsite my efforts to keep the triplets in a bubble of protection – my efforts have failed. Bejamin had his first visit to Cheo yesterday.

So I’m “tightning up the ropes”…. no more visitors, way less outtings and much more purel. But depsite my efforts I’m sure there will be relapse at some point. We can’t exactly kick Brad out of the house for a year – and lets face it kids are germ bags – and Bradley just got over a cold – it’s little wonder where Ben caught it from.

I’ll always remember when it happend. We were visiting my mom Sunday Dec 27th 5pm – cough. It was the most horrible cough I’ve ever heard come out of a little body – we thought at first maybe he had choked on a bit of spit up – and I was hoping that was the case – but the night proved otherwise. I was up all night with a very upset baby. That morning we made our way to cheo. ( Ben and I)

The service I recieved from the “attending staff” was great – the dr however was a complete asshole. He basically told me he has brocholoitis a form of RSV ( every preemie mom knows about RSV, if you don’t google if) handed me a brochure – told me if he has more difficultly breathing, he turns blue, or stops breathing for 20 seconds or more to bring him and have a nice day – WTF   – that’s kind of a scary note to go on.

On a good note – he hasn’t broken a fever, he has no mucous in his lungs and he seems to be in good humour - still smiling and talking away! I’m hoping that we’re getting through the next few rough days and then he bounces back – He’s a strong little boy – I have faith.

My faith in breastfeeding though has gone out the window. LOL….. The girls get occasional – very occasional breast milk ( maybe once a day) Ben however has breastmilk with every feeding – they said breast milk will help protect against colds etc etc well BS the girls are doing well and he’s first to come down with something – hmmm I have my suspicions – none the less we’re still bf’ing.

The girls are still in great health fingers crossed that they dont get it – YA RIGHT  – I’m bracing down for a few days – maybe weeks – of hell as the bug goes around and around.

Well off I go – counting bens breaths ( really how can a mom sleep with info like that from the dr)….

Happy New year to all my readers xoxoxo

Looking back – and Looking forward

I’m absoulty amazing that I managed to pump through the last two months. Completely and utterly stunned – looking back, I have no idea how I did it? Was I crazy? But  I’m so happy that I did do it.

I have no idea how we’ve managed to get where we are now – I dont know how any mother of higher order multiples does it – but I guess you just do. It’s survival mode – and basically that’s it.

Things are getting better – we’re 2 weeks away from 3 months ( how did that happen?) and things are loosly starting to come together, the babies are now recognizing things and are amused by things – which helps HUGE when you’re trying to get things done. – Here look at this rattle while mommy makes a bottle – is much  better then the screaming that was going on before.

The babies had their first Vacinations on Dec 23rd. They each recieved 2 needles and handled it all like a pro. Alanna however – decided to fling her arm infront of the needle and got sliced by the needle on her hand – I think that was more painful for her than the two injections. Following the needles about 3 hours after Alanna and Ben began to HOWL – the poor things, it was the first time they were given tylenol and it worked like a charm – Lauren on the other hand wasn’t at all bothered by it! ( the other two settled after one dose of tylenol!)

Individual updates:

Alanna – well she is now officially our diva. She’s very tall (60th percentile for a full term babies height…lets not forget these are preemie babies!) She’s very reserved – smiles but not like an excited baby – you have to work to make her smile and she will but only for a second and then it’s back to “prim and proper” I’m surprised she didn’t get a louis vuitton handbag from Santa! … She flat out refused to sleep during the day – no way and is the last to go to sleep at night. She’s very well manner throughout the day but will SCREAM to be fed if you miss her first warning. She loves sleeping in and is the only one to go back to bed after the 6am morning feed – she’ll sleep until about 9am. She has gorgeous long fingernails – they are really stunning! As of their Drs appointment Alanna was 10lbs 7oz

Lauren – well PITA has certinaly transformed herself. She seems to have become more comfortable with the idea of being alive. She loves her environment now and will take pleasure in looking at things – but she gets bored. Quickly. She can spend about 15 minutes per “activity” but then needs to be changed. She loves LOVES to smile she is a very giggly girl and looks so happy! She loves her tummy and tummy time for her is probably the best time of day for her. She also loves sleep. And needs sleep otherwise she becomes very angry. (hence PITA) I know this is a big no no but pita sleeps on her tummy – dont throw rocks!- it’s the only ONLY way she’ll sleep and she loves it. She’s very strong on her stomach and can move her head from side to side and I’m not really at all worried about her. She has become more of the Tom Boy and enjoys being with her brother – as of her last drs appointment she was 10lbs 8oz

Benjamin – aww what a sweetie. This baby is definitely one of the happiest babies on the block. He loves to talk – he babbles so much I’m surprised he isn’t actually talking yet lol. He’s great for interacting and playing with and he smiles alll the time! It’s rare to hear him crying and he can amuse himself for hours. He actually makes himself laugh – he’s a bit of a goof! Ben is the star breastfeeder – infact he gets more than 90% of the share – he’s just THAT good. Lauren will come on occasion and Alanna really wont have anything to do with it – it’s as if she expects gold nipples or something!….

Bradley – he’s doing good, but it’s been horrid lately with him home from school. It’s CRUCIAL that he goes to school because I just can’t entertain him all day. I can’t believe he’s 4 now

And I – I have decided to embark on a little journey. My blog brought me through 9 months of pregnancy – and now my blog is going to take another spin. It’s going to take me through 12 months of weight loss. …. My goal is to blog my weight loss progress as I embark on a one year diet/fitness regime. I still have 20lbs of “baby weight” to loose and I’d like to loose an additional 55lbs – that totals 75lbs to go in 365 days – will make it?….

Word count 799 – babies now screaming – can’t believe I got in this long of a post before the screaming – off I go

I’ve put the breast pump down!

Well it’s not quite what you think given the title. The breast pump has been put down – but the milk is still flowing – and in full force!

I only have a second but I have to capture my excitment!

ALL babies are very successfully breastfeeding AT THE BREAST! No more pumping = happy happy mommy! I’m SO happy I stuck through two months of pure hell ( pumping non stop) to get to where I am today where the babies are actually BREASTfeeding.

My lactation consultant is coming twice next week and now we’re working on tandem feeding ( two at once) I guess like everything with breastfeeding it’ll take work but I’ll be so happy once I get it!

I’m just SO SO happy that I stuck it through and now breastfeeing is super natural I dont have to fidget and try and deal with sore nipples and flow etc etc I just stick the baby there, they latch on their own – and bobs your uncle

way to go working boobies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

6 weeks

PHEW! Time flies – I cannot imagine that the children are almost 7 weeks, wow! Quick updates….

Biggest news:

– Babies are now sleeping 4 hour stretches which is really helpful for mommy and daddy!

My update:

I’m still pumping/breastfeeding, but I’ve finally set a “stop” date. Keith returns back to work in Jan so end of Dec. is when I’ll be calling it quits. I simply cannot pump and take care of three bambinos! Although Benjamin has become and amazing AMAZING breastfeeder, like I can latch him on with my eyes closed, so I may continue b/f’ing him after Dec because it doesn’t really take any effort or time. I’m going to work on the other two as well to hopefully get them latching on – a snack or two of breast milk a day – would be great!….

I had my 6 week post partum follow up. You know what? My ob, who isn’t a young lad… said I’m the most amazing and by far the best triplet pregnancy he has EVER seen. That really made me feel like a million bucks – I cannot believe it! Everything healed perfectly he said my scar was immaculate and all is good. My damn blood pressure is still really low – We’re trying to figure out why I have low blood pressure – hopefully we can get that sorted out. We brough all three babes to the appt – what a spectacle. That was only the 3rd time we’ve been out in public with them all and what a circus. I’ve learned to not make eye contact with ANYONE other wise you simply get stopped way to much! … It’s as if we have 8 babies! Anyways I’m super proud of our pregnancy!

Bradley

What a smart little fellow. I’ve been totally blowen away by the progress he’s made at school this year. Keep in mind he’s not even four yet – he’s still three( for a few more weeks ehhe) and now he knows

- his left from right , I cannot believe that!!

- He can count to 50 in english and french

- He knows all his provinces and contents

- He can recognise written numbers to 10!

I’m so proud of him. He also had his first sleep over at his nanny’s house the other day. It was a really nice break for mommy and daddy!! Also his birthday is coming up – we have a great party planned at Cosmic Adventure I can’t wait!

Lauren (a.k.a pita)

Poor her, she cries 12/7 ( she sleeps perfect at night thank god) …. I think we’ve found the solution though, We’ve changed her formula to sensitive and started gas drops. ( I have to add in I started this post at 6am, it’s now 6pm and I’ve worked on it several times lol… almost finished haha) Besides the crying she’s doing well – growing like weeds. I love love love playing dress up with the girls so much fun! She’s very hard to please though – she doesn’t like swings, nor bouncy chairs or the play mat – but she seems to like curling up in the breast pillow, hopefully that’ll work for her!

Alanna

Alanna is loosing the position of angel to Ben, although not by much! She’s awake and cranky every day from 6-8pm but as soon as we put her down to sleep at 8 then she’s good and she’s all happy again the next morning so it’s really not all that bad! … She’s the only one who hasn’t had to experiment with different formulas, very easy going baby! At first I thought Alanna was a little on the…..ugly side ( bad mommy I know!) but now she’s beauitful… I guess her “baby imperfections” are leaving and she’s just so gorgeous now! She has amazing finger nails – maybe she’ll be a model for fancy nails lol!!

Benjamin

Ben is doing SO well, he’s huge now – he’s just about 10lbs ( how did that happen?) -

Ben is a breast feeder extra-or-dianaire! You know you hear people just breastfeed without much effort – well Bens that baby who can do that, it’s really nice! He’s also a super happy baby – of the 3 of them Benjamin is the most interactive, he loves people and smiling  – boy is he a smiler! He also sleeps well and is content most of the day – his fav. piece of baby “equpiment” is a hand me down fisher price swing ( thank you Bronia!) he could live in it all day!

OHHH – and we recieved our $1500 gift certificate from Jean Coutu, I think that’s amazing that they give that to all triplet families – really really great! Such a big help!!

6 weeks tomorrow!

WOWZER! We’ve been doing this multiple parent thing for almost 6 weeks – time speeds right by!

Of course I have like zero time to write, but I’d like to capture a few things to remember and share with you!

Alanna:

Still the princess of the bunch, although she has found out that she has lungs and when used mommy or daddy react. Although they dont get used often. She’s the easiest going of the bunch and SUCH a pleasurable baby to be with. She’s a fantastic cuddler and loves to nestle right under your chin,  it feels so good to hold the little miracle!… She has major issues with reflux. She refuses to burp – although after 20 minutes or so of coaxing we usually can squeeze out 1 burp, but she always spits up – and being the laid back baby she is – it always manages to come out through her nose. Not fun, poor little girl. When she’s awake she’s very still and loves taking everything in – she’s a real observer

Lauren

Ohh out little p.i.t.a  she’s a great baby – but HIGH HIGH maintance. She loves being the center of attention, and I swear she forgets she shared the womb with some wombmates – she things she’s a singleton forsure. She wakes up generally around 6am and doesn’t nap or sleep until ohh 8pm and during that entire time she wants to be entertained, if left alone or unoccupied she’ll scream and MAN can she scream. She’s still the smallest of the bunch and I think she’ll be a pretty petite gal!

Ben

Ben is the furthest along developmentally – he’s a very interactive baby loves smiling and looking at faces. He also is aware that he has hands. He loves being on the play mat and batting the toys and listening to the chimes. He doesn’t know how to use his hands quite yet but he knows that swinging them around will get some kind of reaction for something near by. He is still a hard feeder – he’d drink 24/7 if we could afford that much formula but he has to be burped every 10z… A big big mommies boy already

They are all amazing sleepers, they somehow know their night and days perfectly. There is never any fussing at night ( besides feeds) and they always go right back to sleep after their feeds.

I’m doing well, learning tips and tricks along the way. I’m still breast feeding (GO TEAM BOOBIES).. I really dont get much, I’d say on an average day I get about 12oz ( for the whole day ) but that’s 4oz each and better than nothing! I’m not sure why it’s so important to me that they receive breastmilk but it is, so I pump like mad all the time!

I’m personally feeilng a little run down looks wise. Pretty unkept, but I’m  sure that’ll pull itself together soon!

Bradley is doing great - he really reacts well to his sibilings and he’s SUCH an amazing helper. For some reason he’s completly in LOVE with the babies poop. He finds it a fantastic activity to look and report about the babies poop… So he’s been nicknamed the “poolice” haha! His birthday is coming up – Ican’t beleive he’ll be FOUR years old..my baby .. time flies!!!

Well babies are fussing – not time again for spell check -

xo

It’s about time..

So it’s quite obvious that this post is well over due, but it’s also to be expected – I just hope I haven’t lost too many readers

So whats new?… ORGANIZATION city!….I love being organized and having things planned, and being a mom of triplets having to be organized is crucial to the success of anything – if anything is going to happen, so it’s great. Just to give you an idea of what days with triplets looks like here it is:

7:00 am – Changing bums, cleaning faces, changing outfits if necessary

7:30am – Feeding take 1, 2, 3 — and pump

8:30am – Restock baby nighttime central ( aka our room) for the next evening. Restock wipes, diapers, clothes, receiving blankets – change the garbage ( there’s ALOT of diapers), clean up and gather all nighttime bottles to bring downstairs for sanitizing. Try to brush teeth take a shower ( ya right) and whatever other “me” activities I can fit in…at this point I’m happy if I can brush my teeth.

10am – Changing bums, cleaning faces, changing outfits if necessary

10:30am – Feeding take 1, 2, 3 — and pump

11:30am – Run downstairs restock day time baby central – (we’re taking a package of wipes/diapers PER day)

12:00pm – Migrate babies and everyone downstairs for the day

12:15pm – Start to sanitize and clean bottles from over night and prepare new ones for the day – TRY to eat breakfast

1:00 – Bradley arrives home from school and Changing bums, cleaning faces, changing outfits if necessary

1:30 – Feeding take 1, 2, 3 — and pump

 

…. Anyways you get the picture, it NEVER ends!

Breastfeeding is going better. I’m still not the mother Theresa of breastfeeding, BUT I’ve started a drug that’s supposed to increase breast milk supply. Currently I’m able to give each baby one entire bottle, but what I do is take that one bottle and separate it over the bottles for the day. Some is better than none they say. Today is day 1 of the drugs but I’m hoping to be able to up it to 2-3 bottles per day!

Babies are doing INCREDIBLE, they are not preemies. I know they were born prematurely but by no means do they act like preemies. Ben and Lauren have already made considerable amount of progress in holding up there heads without help! (YAY) they are growing like weeds, they are each about 7.5lbs each and they turned 1 month today!! They are doing incredible, I’m so proud of them. They actually have outgrown the “newborn” diapers and into size 1!!

We have a nurse that comes by once a week, who helps me with stuff and weights the babies and checks on their progress, she’s really blown away by them, everyone is! GO TEAM!

The days are getting better for me – MAJOR MELT DOWNS have happened over the last few weeks, which I’m sure is to be expected – but I finally feel that we have our feet on the ground, we’re finally understanding each baby and we’re getting to know who needs what and how to do things with them! Each baby is sort of known for certain things:

- Alanna is notorious for spitting up threw her nose ( talk about a party trick) I’m not sure why she does this, but she doesn’t seem bothered by it!

- Ben is our hardest feeder, he has to be burped after every ounce or else he gets terrible TERRIBLE (keep you up all night kinda) gas so he’s a slow eater

-Lauren, is well….renamed as P.I.T.A ( pain in the ass), she’s VERY social and VERY affectionate which is hard when there are THREE babies, but cute none the less ( except at feeding times) she loves being held and involved and part of the game.

Every single day I think how incredibly fortunate I am. I have 4 incredibly wonderful children, I am so so SO blessed!!

 

PS there is NO time to proof read – so sorry if half, or all of this doesn’t make much sense