The Baptistm (overdue)

I realized after writing the last post that I never did post any pictures or info on the baptism.  We finally got the babies 'exorcised' on May 27th.  I use this term because it was used during the video that we watched at the church a few weeks beforehand and I found it funny.  It was at St. James Catholic Church right in our little town of Jamesburg.  We arrived on time, but the priest was a little tardy so everyone, including the babies were getting a little antsy waiting. 

Well, Olivia was getting bit antsy.  She actually got a hold of a church program and started to eat it.  Amelia was good as long she was being held.

For little Tony, the whole thing was just a bit tiring...

Once the priest arrived, everything moved very quickly... I feel bad at this point that I wasn't paying as much attention to the proceedings that I probably should have, but I wanted to get at least a few pictures because I knew everyone else was occupied holding the babies so they couldn't take any!  Amelia was looking beautiful in her dress and also having fun with her Godfather - Uncle Steve.

Olivia also looked beautiful during the mass.  Here she is being held by her God mother - Aunt Natalie.

Little Tony was a handsome little man in his shorts suit, but he was too tired to care... Here he is being held by his Godmother - 'Aunt' Beth.

He woke up while the water was being poured over his head.  I have to mention that each of them did very well, we had no crying whatsoever.  Here's a few pictures of them each being 'cleansed'

Everything was over and done before we knew it and we didn't have a chance to take any pictures afterwards because we needed to leave the church because they needed to set up for the afternoon mass.  I guess if we had thought about it, we would have taken our trio pictures before but there was a bit of tension in the air for a lot of reasons that I won't get into in this blog.  I actually didn't get pictures of the party afterwards either but everyone had a good time.  The food was great thanks to Aunt Beth and Cafe Napoli and Amici Bakery.  The first bit of excitement/commotion was the dog getting out the front door and running down the street - and then watching a bunch of other people start running after him.  A special thanks to cousin Zachary for actually catching up with Buddy and bringing him back home.
All of the kids had fun with the bubbles that Aunt Natalie brought over and baby jail (the play yard) was a big hit.  We brought it out to help corral the babies but all of the kids wanted to get inside! 
Since we didn't get any pictures of the three of them that day, we dressed them up in their dresses/suit so we could get a good shot to send as thank you cards.  We actually didn't get any with them all looking in the same direction, but luckily because I took so many in a row, the photo editor on this computer was able to morph two of the best shots into one and we got this one. 

I have one final picture that I had to take and post because it's hilarious, but I'm probably going to HE double hockey sticks for it - but it speaks for itself.  My little Amelia :)

Big weekend!

I've been very lax lately, and know there are alot of things I should write about, and hopefully I'll remember most.  This past week, my trio hit their 10 month birthday.  I can't believe where the time has gone.  I look at pictures of when I first brought them home and look at them now and am amazed at how far we've all come. 

Amelia is still our smallest - weighing between 15-16 lbs as of a few weeks ago.  She can crawl pretty fast now and easily pull herself up from sitting and can cruise along the inside of the baby cage.  She still has her good/bad times with eating but we're keeping a food log to see if there's any sort of pattern to her not wanting to eat.  It doesn't seem like there is, but I can tell that if she's forced to finish her bottle, she will no doubt throw it up.  We go back to the pediatrician on Tuesday as a follow up from her being sick a few weeks ago and to see if she's putting back on the weight she had lost while being sick.  She's still our most 'sensitive' baby and will cry when she falls over whereas the other other two seem to take their lumps a little better.  She can also be the most smiley baby at times - so you never know!  She's got 3 teeth (two bottom and one on top) in and the other top tooth is appearing.  She's mostly wearing 9 month clothes, but can still fit into some 6 month stuff.  She continues to be a good sleeper/good nap taker and everyone says she looks just like me. 

Little Tony is my sweet little man.  He's such a happy baby and has mastered the ability to pull himself up on anything and everything like his sisters.  He is a great eater (he weighs between 18-19 lbs) but not such a great sleeper.  I've learned that he likes to stay up later after he eats his dinner.  If he gets put to bed right after he eats, he'll just cry in his crib.  Lately, I'll just pick him up and sit with him for about 10 minutes on my bed quietly and then put him back in bed.  He seems to go right to sleep after that.  Tony doesn't want me to get him into this 'habit' but I honestly don't mind doing it most nights because I don't usually get to spend alot of time with each baby (individually).  So this is my time with him and I enjoy every second of it.  He will also be seeing the pediatrician on Tuesday as a follow up from his ear infection.  Sometimes when he cries at night, I'm thinking that the infection is coming back and I really don't want that - those were some bad sleepless nights.  Despite him being a great eater, he's terrible at taking medicine.  He HATES it - not sure if it's the flavor or texture, but either way, it's a struggle to have him drink it.  He's got his two bottom teeth, but the two top ones will be emerging very soon and he's fitting into 9 month clothes these days.

Olivia continues to amaze me with everything I see her doing.  We were at my cousin's house today for a visit and we didn't have the baby gates up and I was able to watch how fast she can crawl!  She's can really get around.  She's able to stand up without assistance for about 30 seconds at a time (not holding onto anything) and I love to watch her as she figures out new toys.  What I don't love to watch is her being a bully.  She's the one who steals the toys away from her brother or sister.  They'll be playing with something and the next thing you know - she has it.  She also is the biggest hair puller.  She'll even tug on the hair of whomever is getting their diapers changed (because her crib is right there.)   I just hope she doesn't do what I've heard from other people about their multiples - bite each other.  She's got 7 teeth and more are coming in.  She's still the one with the most drool, but the tooth cutting doesn't seem to bother her too much.  She's around the same weight as Tony, but doesn't have an appt with the pediatrician although she'll becoming along with the gang.  I'd actually like her to be seen because she still has a cough.  It's one of those loud rough wet coughs, but we're not able to give her any meds to clear her out so we just continue to use the humidifier.  She's not as congested (snotty) as she was but still has the cough - poor baby!

So this weekend marked our first baby hair cut.  Little Tony's hair was getting pretty shaggy and we decided to get it done because Tony had to get his done too.  Here's a few pictures of the experience.  Tony's mom came and saw what a good little boy he was.  He didn't cry at all and both ears are still intact!  Olivia and Amelia were also good babies while they waited for their brother's hair to be done.

                                                          his before picture....

                                         Little Tony watching as his daddy got his hair cut!

                                         Amelia and Olivia waiting patiently...

                                                          during the cut...

                                                          and the after!

Today we took a short road trip to my cousin Tracy's house.  A little back story on what prompted this visit.  I belong to a triplet mom facebook page and noted that someone had posted that she'd like to donate her unused Alimentum formula to someone who has triplets.  The only problem is that she lives in Connecticut.  I emailed her a few times and we were able to work something out to get me the formula for my little peanut, Amelia.  This MoM got the formula through her insurance to didn't feel bad just giving it away.  This was really cool of her and can't believe others' generosity and makes we want to help others when I can.  Well, the pick up of the formula included my Uncle who lives very close to where this MoM's father works in Tarrytown.  It all worked out and I came home after a nice visit with about 60 bottles of the ready to feed formula.  This should likely get us to a year old when she may not have to drink too much more formula.

This past week, I also got together for my MoM club's 'instillation' dinner.  The best part of the whole thing other than the food was the kindness of a fellow MoM.  She had brought me 3 huge bags of clothes for the babies.  Speaking of other MoM's - I met a fellow triplet mom - she started the local consignment shop in town (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Little-Rascals-Consignment-Shop/144569045657227).  There isn't anything I need right now, but I'm sure this place will come in very handy in the near future!

I think that's about all for tonight, I'm beat!

Wait one more really cute picture !  I took this today.  So fun to watch them in their walkers!  This was the traffic jam that was created by Olivia!

                                                          Hilarious!  Olivia is the one looking back to see the chaos she's created and Amelia is crying cause she's stuck and Tony - well, he's just chillin'!

I miss being pregnant

Just a quick post tonight because I really need to catch up on my sleep.  I've been thinking alot about where I was a year ago.  I think that I miss being pregnant because I didn't have to work and got to relax with my feet up and the remote in my hand in the air conditioned basement because I was put out of work around 22 weeks and still felt good.  I'm also remembering that my pregnancy was relatively easy, but I tend to forget all the worry I had and all the praying that I did - especially around this time of the pregnancy - if I'm remembering correctly, I had just spent a few days in the hospital on magnesium sulfate  - not something I'd want to do again, having a catheter in, getting several shots - some to help with lung development and another because of my RH negativity, and having the NICU docs come and talk to me about the statistics on survival rates of babies being born this early.  Besides all of that, I still liked being pregnant and would do it again.. but I won't. :)

I think I've posted this picture before, but thought it fit in well here.  I was in my 29th week here and living in my husband's t-shirts and champion (stretchy) shorts. 

Finally!

My little man can now pull himself up to a standing position as of today!!  He seems so happy and pulls himself up on anything and everything he can in the play yard.  I don't think he's able to do it in his crib, but I'm sure that's not too far behind.  What makes it even better is that my mom and sister were here to see him do it for one his first times doing it.  I'll have to get a picture of him or video of him in the next few days.  I was a bit busy today cleaning the house and getting prepped for the baptism and party to follow that will be tomorrow. 
Another great thing that restores my faith in mankind is the generosity of my fellow triplet moms.  I recently found a facebook group of just mom's of triplets!  It's amazing how many of us are around!  Last week, someone posted that they have about $600 in Alimentum formula that they'd like to donate to someone else that has triplets.  She lives in Connecticut, which isn't really close, but close enough to make it worth my time to go and get it.  I'm actually having my Aunt/Uncle, who lives close to this triplet momma's dad's office, pick it up and within the next few weeks, we'll take the babies up for a visit.  Thanks again Megan!

I need to get to bed - I'm not sure why, but this past week, I've been planning to get to bed early, but I end up staying up later and later every night.  I think last night, I was awake and still doing household chores at 1am.  before I went to bed.  This would be an early night if I actually went to bed within the next few mins.

Pictures of the baptism and party to follow tomorrow!

Bruises, scratches and blisters!

A few days ago I noticed a small blister on little Tony's big toe.  I'm not quite sure how he got it, other than from when he was outside over the weekend.  It didn't seem to bother him at all, but I still feel bad because along with the blister, he's got a few small bruises on his forehead and a scratch over his left eye.  Basically, the boy is a mess!  He's the most unsteady and tends to fall over the most (as compared to his sisters) and occasionally gets pushed over by his sisters who just crawl over him to get to where they want to go.  He also is the only one who cannot pull himself up in his crib or baby jail (the play yard we have set up in the living room), and because of the bumpers and the crib guard, he has limited space to see out of his crib.  It's pretty funny to see him ducking down to look out  between the few inches he can see through.  Olivia also has a bruise on her leg, but other than that, she's doing pretty well.  She currently has 7 teeth popping through.  Amelia is also doing well and has 3 teeth coming in.  Not too much else to report.

                                         Amelia & Olivia - when I first entered their room, they were
                                         facing each other - it was so adorable!

                                                          Amelia

                                                           Olivia

                                         I had to stand Tony up here with his sisters... LOVE LOVE LOVE this!

Here are a few pictures I took this morning as I entered the babies room to start the day.  Nothing makes me smile more!

For Sale!!

Yesterday was the town-wide garage sale and earlier in the week I decided that I could get a few things together to sell, including some baby items.  It was sad to think about selling some of the things each of them spent time in/on/etc.  I ended up staying up way too late last night and I'm not sure why, but then I also ended up waking up early and decided to try and at least get a few more things together and outside.  Tony got up shortly after me and helped me set up some tables outside.  We took a break from that to feed babies and then got right back to it.  We even had the babies outside with us in their 'go pods'. Well the selling day started off slow, remained slow and ended slow.  I made a total of $2.25 for the day.  Actually, in the end, I only made a quarter because I spent $2.00 on garage sale stickers.  So even though the sale was a bust, I heard a few funny comments like one woman looked at all the swings I had out for sale.  Here's how it played out...
Garage sale lady:  How many babies do you have, 5?
Me:  No, just three.  You actually just missed them I had them outside earlier, but they just went down for their nap.
Garage sale lady:  Oh,, What are their ages?
Me:  Nine months
Garage sale lady:  and?
Me:  Nine months, all of them are.
Garage sale lady:  Triplets???  Wow...
yadda yadda yadda...

It was the babies first encounter with grass (that I know of.)  Little Tony was using his bouncer normally he love bouncing constantly, but he was sitting in it and I noticed that his feet were tucked up so they wouldn't touch the ground/grass.  It was so cute and later on I noticed that Olivia was a little wary about standing on the grass, but she got over her initial fear and then was crawling all over, as usual. 
It was a beautiful day and the babies spent alot of time outside and seemed to enjoy the wind blowing through their hair.  Here are a few pics from the day!

Jury duty/baby duty

I was sitting in the Middlesex county courthouse earlier in the week due to a jury summons and realized I'd hadn't blogged in a really long time.  I really do mean to do this regularly, but don't seem to find the time as often as I'd like. Tony and I actually went on vacation last week without the babies to Mexico. We had four nights and five days without babies and I really missed them.  Every baby I saw I went over to and had to talk to the parents. I even got to hold one of them - Her name was Melissa.  I wasn't trying to baby snatch, I offered to hold the baby while the mom climbed out of the back of the van we were riding in.  We had a nice time - the weather was great, but it was great to come home and see my babes again too.  My in-laws had agreed to watch them while we were away and as soon as we walked in the front door, we heard all about who came over to help feed them, and how everyone behaved (for the most part) and how Amelia reached new octaves.  She has taken to screeching very loudly - when she's happy, mad, whenever really.  They had visitors every day including Tony's aunt and uncle.  Overall, everything went well and the really good news is that they didn't have to use the medical release we had written up!  Just before going away grandma and papa (far away) also came for a visit. They got to see how big everyone has gotten and their new tricks. We now have the baby gate/pen set up and both Amelia and Olivia can crawl all around and can even pull themselves up from a sitting position to standing. They can also pull themselves up in their cribs or just about anything that's stationary for any length of time. They even try to crawl up on me and Tony!  It's really fun to watch them and even more so when you're inside baby jail with them and they come crawling to you and start crawling all over you.  Tony is just about crawling but mainly gets places by rolling himself to where he wants to get. He often gets crawled over by his sisters because they don't care if he's in the way...he's just something else to crawl over. Olivia definitely seems like she's the boss. She thinks nothing of crawling over to her brother or sister and taking the pacifier out of their mouth and popping it into her own, or taking a toy away from them.  She now has four teeth and three more on their way in.  She babbles all the time and we swear she says Dada and Mama and maybe even baba.  She dances (sorta) too!  When any of her toys plays music, she rocks side to side.  I can't help but chuckle cause it's so darn cute.
I actually didn't get called to be on any jury - too bad, I was actually looking forward to another 'vacation' from work, but oh well.