For my friends and family not following us on Facebook

Where to start....

Jamie turned 15 yesterday. She has been taking dance in school this year and will be trying out for the dance team in a couple of weeks. She has had a couple of performances and it has been fun to watch her and the prep team. I'm very excited about being able to see in her in football games come fall :)

Hunter and Hannah have started playing soccer. I don't have any pictures yet as I (the family picture taker) have not been able to go to the practices etc. Once spring break is over, the schedule will settle a bit and we will be able to trade out who takes to practice and hopefully take the whole family to the games! I'm excited because it reminds of when Jamie played and we took the baby-twins. They were so cute and fun at that age, just like the triplets are now.

Oh, and they've both gotten short haircuts recently. Daddy is a big fan of Hannah's short hair, just as he was when we cut Jamie's short at that age. Hunter's was shorter than what I really asked for, but it's growing on me.

Cooper is a big walking boy! It's been so much fun watching him. Despite his being so premature, he is my youngest walker; he was walking pretty well by 11 1/2 months. We finally got the gates for the family room and were able to really open it up while keeping them corralled. Now that he has all that space, he is really walking like crazy.

Now Molly is walking a little, too. She had taken a couple of steps several times and then the other night she just let go of me and walked to her Daddy all the way across the room!

Peanut has switched allegiance and now wants ME all the time. As soon as I arrive home she cries for me and doesn't stop until I spend the rest of the evening holding her. She also really thinks she should have been an only child, or at least an only baby. A lot of the time she only settles down if I take her into the other room and just be alone with her for a while. I had to take her to run errands one day this week because she would not chill out. She was perfectly content to hang out with me at Blockbuster, Starbucks and Walmart :)

At their one year well-baby Molly was about 21 lbs, Cooper 20ish, and Emily still a tiny 16 lbs. She is still 5th percentile for weight and 20th for height. Since they are switching to milk and regular food we have to watch her intake and supplement a little formula, but overall it's still not a concern. She has continued to grow on that same curve, she is just a Peanut! She is in good company; there are a few petites in our family and her cousin MacKenzie is a Little Bit, too :)

Now, some pictures. MawMaw and PawPaw, I have printed a bunch of pictures for you, it's just a matter of getting them in the mail....especially since I can't remember the last time we owned a stamp :)

Finally got a good picture of those beautiful baby blues!
He's my sweet boy!
Molly is a snuggler so I got this picture while she was trying to climb backwards into my lap after I put her down.

See? DAILY!!!

MawMaw, remember this little bunny you gave us last year at Easter? It is one of the babies' favorite things and they will dance to it over and over. They are so cute when they dance. My favorite part is that Molly and Cooper rock side to side and Emily bounces up and down.

And finally, just needed a good snot picture - we've been dealing with A LOT of this stuff lately.

TTFN!

It's a new year

I just wanted to say that this is one of the photos that is in the Christmas cards that are still on the living room cabinet, half-addressed, that never got sent out.

I realize after searching for pictures to post that I am sorely in need of taking some new ones. I have fairly recent ones of just the babies, and even the twins, themselves, but none of all of the various things they are able to do now. Perhaps tomorrow the light will cooperate.

The pretty one, True Adventurer, Hannah Montana, and an army man

Blessed

** Blogger is being a butt and won't let me post pictures right. Just so you know. Maybe I'll try to add them again later.

I am. I know it. Sometimes it doesn't make daily life any easier. I Thank God everytime I read about someone else's difficulties having a baby that what I have has come so easily for me. Did I ask for 6 children? Er, no! But would I trade a single one of them for having all of the bills paid? Er, hell no! I'll drive this mini-van straight to the poor house if I have to, but I'll be loving these children all the way.

Ok, enough of that.

Gosh I really have not been keeping y'all updated, have I? Work is great. I'm so glad to be in a job at a place that I want to go to everyday. I love my co-workers. Sometimes we get a few patients come through that are hard to take, or hard to get a long with, or hard to please, but they eventually drift off. Scott is doing great at home. He gets a little stressed, but he's not ready to give it up just yet (thank goodness!!).

Jamie - oh the joys of raising a teenager! It never ends. Her grades are in the toilet. As a result, she hasn't had her cell phone for several weeks now and it.is.the.end.of.the.world. She had 9000 texts last month. No, that is not too many zeroes. That is the actual number. She can't manage to finish any homework because she "doesn't have time" to do that and "all of my chores" but she can send 300 texts per day. And really, cleaning the kitchen after dinner, keeping your room at least hygienically clean and cleaning the bathroom just often enough to keep the alien fungus at bay is not really a whole lot to ask. I'm worried that I won't be able to motivate her enough to pass, yes PASS, the 9th grade. Much less have any sense of the future, college, etc. She wants to be a dermatologist but doesn't think passing 9th grade English is important?? God, give me strength.

Oh, and I almost forgot - I'm endebted to 6 Day Dental and Orthodontics for the next 2 years... Jamie has started the process of getting braces. Right now she has spacers, next week is a blah-blah inserted and then a mold taken, yada yada, followed 3 weeks later by initial.initial.initial which sounds something like something the enemy is shooting at you (RPG or some such??) but is actually an expander. I just drive her there and sign the checks. Anyway, I'll post pictures when she has something that looks like it should cost the $150 per month I'm paying.

Hunter - He alternately holds my heart and makes me want to scream. He'll be the first to run up and hug me when I get home and the next minute throw himself in the floor in a fit of fury because I tell him to put his toys away. Sheesh. So we struggle with doing as we are told at home and at school. We made a new rule that he has to get "green" for behavior ALL WEEK at school in order to play any video games on the weekends. I think that has happened once since. Except Dad gives me the big middle finger about my rules and pretty much lets him do whatever he wants. Thank you Dad. He just gets tired of the whining and says "Fine then!" and gives in.

Hannah - always my sweet pea! Though she is learning some bad habits from Hunter. She gets mad and walks off anytime you start to correct her. She got a fish tank for her b-day (thank you Didi; Daddy was NOT happy, LOL, but who's giving the finger now? I approved the gift hahahahaha!) so she bugs me daily and about getting it set up so she and DiDi can go pick out her fish.

The twins had their first ever birthday party this year. I will never do that again! It was awful! None of the girls showed up (except the cousins and 1 or 2 stragglers at the end) and several of the boys parents just dropped them off. So, guess which boys were the worst behaved? Of course the ones whose parents weren't there. GRRRR But the twins seemed to enjoy it and they got some fun gifts so I just count off those 2 hours in the tally of my life.

Babies!!

Cooper - we call him the True Adventurer (if you play any Lego Indiana Jones you know what that means). He can commando crawl (belly crawl using his elbows) and he is All.Over.the.Place. Seriously, he can not be contained. We build "castle walls" with pillows and laundry baskets to keep him in the family room but he just plows through or climbs over. It's pretty funny, except when you want to go to the bathroom and can't leave him alone for half a minute. We are working on getting baby gates to block off the entire room for him (long story, they are more expensive because we have long, oddly shaped openings so we're having to kinda save up for them or wait to get them as xmas gift) but right now he's got the run of the place.

Molly - we call her Chubs. Cooper started to lose some of that "fat baby" look when he started being so active, but Molly just keeps getting chubbier. She doesn't move much. She "dances" on her belly, and of course she rolls around, but thats about it. She can almost sit up though. She'll sit propped with one hand for a bit if you stay close by. Gosh, she's the prettiest little thing you ever saw. I entered all of the younger kids (Jamie is past the age-range) into Gap's model search, but we all agree Molly will be the one if any of them gets it.

Emily - still the princess. And the Peanut. Weighing in a grand total of 12 lbs (yes, STILL) she's like Mighty Mouse. At her last well-baby, she was still 12 lbs. So the pediatrician looked back over it and said that at her last visit, when she had supposedly made such a big jump in weight, she thinks that was an error. She thinks it must have been more like 10-11 lbs then and they wrote it down wrong. Still, she thinks she is on the same "curve" she has always been on and we are not to worry. She's still on the high calorie formula but she's just bitty bitty. She's almost as long as the other 2, just lighter. She can wear most of the same clothes as Molly, they are just big around the waist.

She just almost wants to crawl. She gets on her elbows and knees and rocks, rocks, rocks...crashes. Not there yet. And she thinks she is an only child (she always has, really). She wants to be held all the time. She wants to eat first, wants to be changed first, etc. Definitely the princess.

Is that everybody? Whew!

We're Alive

It's just really tough times for us. Don't much feel like talking. Love to you all.

I been working!

Whew! It stays busy around here. Work is great but I am exhausted. By the time everyone is down for the night, I am right behind them. That means there hasn't been time nor energy for stuff like blog updating. I think I've only taken pics of the kiddos once or twice during the past month; gotta learn Daddy how to pick up the camera and record those daily moments.

Daddy is finding caring for 6 kids a bit rough. No comment from me on his not taking advice on how to better handle things. I can sympathize, because I know it is difficult, but when I share strategies that worked during the weeks I was doing it, he ignores me, so...

The kids:

Hunter finally lost a tooth. I'd take a picture, but it doesn't look like much because the permanent tooth was already half-way in when it fell out.

Hannah had been bugging me about wanting short hair, so I cut it for her. It's really cute! She'll get it trimmed up before school starts, but I did a pretty good job. The only picture I have is on my cell phone; I'll have to take one soon.

Jamie spent her usual week at camp recently. Lots more older kids there this year; she was one of the youngest instead of one of the oldest. Lots of boys, too, apparently. Sheesh.

Babies: They are 5 months old now. They went to the pediatrician just last week. Now one of our concerns all along has been that Emily is still so tiny. We'd been weighing them at home and the last time, about 5 weeks ago, she hadn't even reached 10 lbs yet. Well last week she was over 12 lbs! Yeah, Em! The pedi said as long as she continues on an upward curve it was fine. Speaking of which, they all on the normal growth charts now, though Em is just 10% for weight. Cooper was 16 lbs and 21 inches, Molly 15 lbs and 24 inches. So they are close, but Coopy is more compact. Hence why Daddy calls him "boat anchor".

We got high chairs:

and a bumbo seat

and we can hold stuff

and we tried some cereal

with which we were not impressed.

And last but not least, we got a nephew/cousin. (L to R Bella, Lillie, Abby, Mom Angie with baby Jack)

So that's what we've been up to :)

I spy with my little eye

something that is red.
And it would be Me. (It is also the QOTD as the twins rolled their eyes when choosing me as the red Spyee.)
I took the kids swimming today and, duh, decided to get a little color. Instead I got A LOT of color, but it is all tomato red. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Why do I always forget that this will happen and it will be wretched??

Work is going great. I was really able to jump in there more than I expected to. I was very anxious about what I wouldn't feel comfortable with , what they might expect of me that I couldn't perform, that I would feel stupid, that they would regret hiring me. But the knowledge is mostly still there, with a few muddy areas. This coming week, we have a plethora of new patients coming in at "my" clinic so the road to independence is being built quickly.

Which reminds me, I don't think I previously explained that I will be the coordinator for one of the satellite clinics, which means I will be THE P.T. over there, with a tech and (I think) a PTA (physical therapist assistant) at least part time. Right now that clinic is only open half a day because they couldn't staff the whole day, but we are already looking at staying open part of a couple of afternoons to get all of these new ones in. We expect to be open full time by the first of September, but if it goes at this rate, it may be sooner. We are also expanding into the area next door to our current space, roughly doubling the space, adding new equipment, etc which means I get to make a wish list of all the therapy goodies I'd like to have.

Going back to work though has been rough on the bod. The first couple of evenings I was asleep on the couch by 8, then dragged myself to the shower and bed. By the end I was at least able to stay up til 10! I hurt all over though. My feet were killing me from standing all day, my forearms from all of the manual therapy I wasn't used to (mostly massage-type work), and my hips and thighs from the physical assessment I had to go through as a new hire (5 min. treadmill and 4 min. step tests, 2 min. of calf raises, and 2 min. of squatting -sheesh!!). This week I will be taking advantage of the 30 day trial fitness center membership that comes with the job. Gotta get in shape!

4 month baby update to come soon - I don't have access to the pictures right now and it just wouldn't be fun without pictures!!

I is a employee :)

As we speak, there is a contract upstairs printing that I just received via email. Yeah!

So, I talked about the great interview I'd had and how I was going to go through with a couple of others, despite being fairly certain about that job. Well, yesterday I visited that clinic and spent a few hours with the PT getting to know their program. It was great and I left very excited about working for them, called the Supervisor and asked when I might expect an offer. Long story, she wanted me to go another time to visit (the clinic had been VERY slow) when it was busy and then call her, though it still sounded like they wanted to hire me.

So today and I went ahead and went to this other interview, just to follow through with the appointment (this was the one who had been out because his wife had a baby, he'd finally called me). Now this is an only-game-in-town hospital in a rural county, so I honestly wasn't expecting much. I spent the first half hour saying nothing much besides "WOW!". They have a phenomenal program! I just can't even begin to relate all of the great things they have to offer, the ways they are growing, and the likability of the staff. I spent 4 hours with the director! I've never had an interview quite like it. I told him that I'd been ready to accept another position but that he had totally turned my head. I left with the understanding that he was sending out an offer letter and that I was ready to start on Monday. I had several hours of nail-biting (ack! what if he'd changed his mind!?!) until it finally arrived in my inbox.

I am nervous and excited. Nervous because it is a new place, new people, and different practice arena (I'll be doing outpatient orthopedics/sports medicine-like versus the pediatrics or hospital work that I've had experience in) and excited for all of the same reasons. I've been hoping to find a career "home" that I can and want to stay at for years to come and I hope, hope, hope that this is it.

Recent QOTDs

(Quote of the Day, that is)

All of the bigs are at their grandparents in Mississippi this week. Yesterday, their aunts took them to the water park, the twins first time to go, and Jamie's third just this summer! As per their report, a good time was had by all. Apparently though, Hunter had a run-in with another kiddo that resulted in his getting a goose egg on his forehead.

Hunter: I didn't like it one bit.
Mommy: What, the water park?
H: NO! Getting a Boo Boo!!

We packed church clothes for them with the understanding that they would be going today. This morning we talked to them and Hunter said they weren't going to church, then Hannah insisted they were.

Mommy to Hannah: But Hunter said you are not going to church.
Hannah: Well, I'll just have to talk to Hunter about that. (I can just picture her little hand-on-her-hip pose)

Recently we were watching A Wrinkle in Time, a not-real-great movie version of a favorite children's book. It's very science fiction-y and I spent a lot of the time trying to explain that they were travelling to make-believe planets, etc.
Hunter: That can't really happen, can it, Mommy?
Hannah (puts her hand to her mouth, leans across to him, and says conspiratorally): You never know what is in your future.

This is a really old one, but I have to record it, because we still refer to it often. This was a day when I was still in the hospital and DiDi was picking the twins up from school every day. They had a lot of coversations about what they might do or be when they grow up. Their was some reference to Hannah having a job/career.
Hannah: Well, I'm not going to live my life with just a husband and a weinee dog!

Golly, them kiddos just crack me up!!

Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho

Yes, the interview clothes are because I am ready to (that'saLieIhaveto) go back to work. I had a good interview yesterday, for the position I am most interested in (so far), 2 more scheduled for Friday, and a 4th that is supposedly going to call me when somebody gets back because somebody had a baby (?? I think the director's wife??). I'm pretty sure I've got the one from yesterday wrapped up; I'm going Monday to shadow the therapist and see what their clinic is like, and they have to confirm my salary request to the boss's boss, or some such, but otherwise, I think it's in the bag.

Sooooo, Scott's last day of work is Friday (after being very patient, they are finally kicking him out) and he will be a SAHD (Stay at Home Dad) again. Looks like next week we will both be home, but hopefully I'll be starting the week after that, otherwise, we'll be eating rice :o He was pretty darn good at it with the twins, but there's a third baby in the mix this time, lol, not to mention the 3 other kids being on summer vacation!!! He's lucky because they are in a good place right now and are pretty easy all day long. Now, if I can just make him remember all the housework that goes along with being the parent at home all day. (Can you believe that one day last week he grabbed a pile of too-big diapers that were under the bed because he "forgot" where we keep the ones we use?? Yeah, it's really hard, they are ON THE CHANGING TABLE. Hmmph)

I want a new drug...

...One that won't make me fat


is that how the song goes? No? Hmmm


I just spent half an hour trying on everything in my closet that is "interview" worthy. Can't exactly where the fat scrubs, that are stained from working with kids in dirty homes for the past 5 years, to job interviews. Now I'm no fashionista, but I like to have cute things, or at least comfortable things that look halfway decent that I like. But I can't wear jeans or denim capris either. So that leaves the one or two pair of khakis left over from my hospital days (when my director didn't allow us to wear scrubs). Needless to say, I've HAD TRIPLETS since then.

Now, remember all those posts about not gaining much weight with my prenancy and then losing it fast after they were born? That didn't last. I pretty much have been eating my way back to sanity every day. Babies screaming unconsolably? Eat a cake. Stressed over lack of job and lack of funds? Eat all of last night's leftovers. Bored to tears? Eat a box of cereal. You get the idea. So I'm right back where I started, only now I'm stretched out and lumpier bumpier than previously.

According to Dr. Oz (I really don't watch much Oprah, but it was on one day when nothing else was) that is because food is my drug of choice. I wish exercise could be. I wish instead that when I was stressed I wanted to run up and down the stairs ten times. Or do that Yoga dvd I bought (though I could hardly get into a zen state with the three screaming mimi's in the room).

Anyway, I found 2 pair of fugly pants that I can get into with one of those chest to knees girdles left over from my wedding, and 1 dress that makes me look like...well...a cow in a dress. Goody.

Dare I hope???

How does the expression go...it only takes so many days to make something a habit? I'm drawing a complete blank. Anyway....


6 nights - that's how many they have slept from 11ish to 6 or 7 in the morning!!! Sweet Hallelujah! I feel like a different person now that I can get 6-8 straight hours of sleep again. I am rested. I am productive. I have energy again.


For the record, Molly is still determined to be our holdout. Most of those nights she has either ended up with a bottle (once, she took 2 oz and went back to sleep) or in bed with me (I have a certain pillow that I make a little "nest" for her and she curls up to me and goes right back to sleep) but we can work with that.


One of the best parts, they are finally on a consistent daily schedule as a result. Previously, whatever time they woke up in the morning dictated our schedule for the day. I.e., if they were up at 4, they ate at 8, 12, 4, 7-8, 10-11, then bed and up between 2 and 4. The next day, they may get up at 6 and eat at 10, 2, 6, 9, 12, 3, etc. It was everchanging. Now, they are consistently up between 7 and 7:30, eat then, and again at 11, 3, 6:30/7, 10ish (don't ask me WHY they have to eat more frequently in the evenings, they are just so fussy and act like they are starving). I feel like we could actually, dare I say it, Make. Plans., because I can actually guesstimate their feeding times.


We are also one week into summer vacation. I have to say that, surprising myself, I love it! I wish I could stay home the whole summer with the babies and the twins (and Jamie when she gets home!). There are challenges and we will make some changes, but overall I think it's going great. I mainly want to get a good schedule with mandatory chores, reading time, etc as well as try to do some craft projects. The main challenge is game time - we rented Lego Indiana Jones and that is, big surprise!, all Hunter wants to do, so I have to limit it. Not only that, but he doesn't really want to give anyone else a chance to play, so he gets a little ornery when it is Hannah or my turn.

And if you give a kid a camera, they will take pictures of the things most important to them ;)

I'm LMBO because I did not notice this pose when I was taking pictures of the babies, but isn't this hilarious!!

And I know you can't resist this sweet face, our Peanut, Em:

Finally, for good measure, Miss Molly Mae:

Haven't gotten a picture of her smiling yet, but I will ;)

Has it been a month???

I don't guess that really surprises me. The part about them being another month older - yes; the part about me not blogging for a month - no. It is a trial, let me tell you. I rarely get anything done during the day, and if I do, it sure isn't hanging out on the computer. It's more like take a shower, wash clothes, wash and make bottles, cook dinner. When dad gets home, he takes over so that I can take care of the needs of the other kids or do some of those things listed above that I didn't do during the day.

The evenings are a nightmare.

They are just not happy from about 4 pm until they go to bed for the night, which usually isn't until 11 or 12. Generally, dad handles it while I go to bed around 9 or so because I'm going to be back up with them anywhere from 2 to 4 am. The problem is that once they start stirring, it wakes me up and I can't go back to sleep until they are fed and settled back to sleep. All of their grunting, fussing, coughing, etc, plus my knowing I'll have to get right back up just keeps me awake, often for 2 or 3 hours straight. This wouldn't be so bad if there was a chance of me napping the next day, but that just doesn't happen anymore as they don't all sleep for long periods of time during the day.

There have been quite a few nights where they've made it to 5 or so before they wake. The last week or so, I have put Molly in bed with me (always the first to wake, then get everybody else started) for a snuggle and she goes back to sleep for a couple of hours. This has gotten us through until 5 many nights, and sometimes even 6. Last night, they were down by 10ish, and slept until 6 am!! Woo Hoo! Dad and I both got a nice, long night's sleep. What are the chances that this is the new norm? My guess - slim to none.

As for everyone else:

Hunter got a cast

and then got it offin the space of just 2 weeks. The break is somewhere near the growth plates, so the orthopedist wants to follow him for a year or so.

Hannah lost her two front teeth, also in the space of just 2 weeks.

She's just so darn cute with that smile!

School is out which makes the twins 1st graders, and Jamie...a high school student! :o That doesn't seem possible. I remember what was important and what we were up to in 9th grade and I just don't even want to think about it. YIKES!! She's already gone on the first leg of her summer travels, having left the day after school was out.

The babies at 3 months:

They all smile and coo, though Cooper is most proficient at both. If you "ooo" and "ah" at him he will do it right back to you. The girls are just more occasional and inconsistent. Molly smiles quite a bit, but it is much harder to get one out of Em.

Their weights are Cooper at 11.2 lbs (NOT 11 lbs 2 oz, but 11.2 on our home scale; we had dad hold the babies, then weigh without them and subtract the difference, LOL), Molly at 10.6 lbs and Em at 8.2 lbs. Em is still our peanut!! The gap between the bigger two and our little peanut is growing. But, she doubled her birth weight, so no worries.

They all have rolled over from their belly to their back if put on a little incline, lol, since they are often on the couch. From their side, I've seen them each try to go to their belly, and they will all go to their back.

I've started watching them for torticollis; they just too often seem to keep their head turned to one direction, but then I'll notice that the next time they are turned the other way, so maybe they just don't like to look straight ahead.

Ok, that's enough "therapy" stuff :)

They did start tracking shortly after the 2 month mark. You can really tell they are watching your face and if you walk by, they'll follow you over a small arc. They even watch TV! Of course, it's just light, color and movement, but it's funny to see.

Well, 2 hours after starting this update, I'm going to close. I will try to keep updating periodically, as much to look back on as for all of you (both of you??) out there interested :)

We are 2 months old

That is not possible. I almost refuse to believe it, as if I've miscounted or something. March, April, May...yeah, I guess that would be 2 months.

I gave an update just yesterday for them, so nothing much else to say. I wanted to come up with some poignant words, but mostly I'm just glad that I haven't been puked on today.

Here they are on their 2 month birthday.

Left to Right: Cooper, Emily, Molly

This week

It's been a while since I've blogged, mostly because it has been a ridiculously busy week. We literally had an appointment every day this week (until Jamie's hair appt changed at the last minute, leaving Friday appt-free, though still busy).

First, an update on Hunter: They do believe that his arm is broken, but while the ER doc thought it was the humerus, or upper arm bone, the orthopedist said it seems to be acting more like his radius, a lower arm bone. At this point, he is still in a half-cast splint only. He goes back next week for more Xrays and possible casting. He really doesn't even complain of pain since the first day or so and he runs around like there's nothing wrong. Though, amazingly, he is utterly helpless when it comes to washing his hands, brushing his teeth, etc - go figure.

ETA: one of those appts was his haircut, so he looks much better than this rag-a-muffin kid now.

Hannah: Nothing special going on with her this week, just being her usual beautiful, sweet self. Recently though, we had her ARD for the next year of Speech Therapy. She has reached all of her goals! These are goals that have been in place for the past 2 calendar years. She will continue to get speech, but with new goals. The most obvious change that we notice on a daily basis are the "S"es. She makes such a great effort with them. We have to try not to laugh because she pauses at every S- or Sh- to really concentrate on the sound. We're so proud!

Jamie: Since I finally got to scrapbook a page or two over the past few weeks, I'll just post this one that sums up Jamie of late. It says: When she wants something, she calls me "Mommy". Yep, that pretty much sums it up!

Einstein played soccer, on hot concrete, for a full hour, BAREFOOT, yesterday and is sporting some serious blisters this morning. Sheesh. I'm not taking anyone else to the doctor, so she better hope it heals on its own!

Oh, the babies! It has been a trial of late. When I was reading message boards with other parents of HOM (higher order multiples) to learn what to expect, we became pretty scared about what a nightmare newborn triplets was going to be. But, then, it WASN'T. For weeks it was pretty darn easy, which I mistakenly said out loud on several occasions. They slept and ate and what it was time to eat, they ATE. Everything is supposed to even out when they hit their due date. In our case, everything went to heck on that date instead. All of a sudden, they don't eat well, are gassy, have reflux, etc.

And the spit up. Um, I've been instrumental in the daily care of 2 children (Jen and Dev), then raised 3 of my own babies. I've seen A LOT of spit up. I've cleaned up my share of child vomit as well. But I have NEVER seen actual PROJECTILE vomit until this week. No kidding, Cooper spewed 6 feet across the room the other night. PawPaw had the misfortune of being the one holding him when he did it. Since then, it's been anyone's guess who would be the one to do it at each feeding. A successful feeding is one where everyone keeps down all that they consume, even if it is only 2-3 ozs. (down from the 4-6 ozs. they were previously taking). And I can't go to bed without a spare set of PJs handy because I get it almost every night.

We see the pediatrician on Monday. I really hope we can convince her that we need reflux meds.

The other major issue continues to be Molly. She's just a miserable baby and I feel so sorry for her. The "rash" gets better and worse on a seemingly random cycle. We were going to try a new formula this week, only the one the pedi recommended is not available in stores (it has to be specially ordered) and is RIDICULOUSLY expensive. I'm talking $80 for roughly 3 days worth. Yeah. So far insurance does not cover it, and WIC was closed for half the week so we're still waiting to check that route. Molly goes to the pediatric dermatologist next week to see what they can do. We've got to get this thing figured out.

As for myself, I desperately wish I had not had that gallbladder surgery. I was doing just fine with the gallbladder I had; removing it has started a whole new slew of problems that are making life difficult. I continue to have unbearable pain. It is really strange because it is my SKIN that hurts, right over the surgical area on my belly. I can not tolerate my shirt touching my skin. I still have to take pain meds to sleep at night but I can't take them during the day (duh, they make me sleep!). I am so swollen that I'm back to wearing PJ pants and maternity pants because my pants are too tight over the incisions and sore spots. The surgeon has pretty much released me because there is nothing he can do at this point. If it does not improve soon, I will have to see a pain management specialist.

Around here we have something called the Quote of the Day. It started because mostly Hannah, but Hunter as well, just say the funniest darn things. I really wish I'd written them all down over the past few months, but I'm going to try to start now. So here is one from the other day.

Hannah got this "grow a pet" puppy that she put in water for a few days until it grew to roughly 5" or so. At that point we took it out of the water so she could play with it. Well, it shrunk back down and was all funky and distorted looking.

Hannah: "It shrunk, Daddy, and it looks dirty"

Daddy: "And it's all wrinkly, too"

Hannah: "Yeah, just like MawMaw and PawPaw"

Poor Baby

As you may have gathered if you are getting to know me through this blog, and as you well know if you know me already - I can handle a lot. I'm pretty easy, pretty resilient. Let's just say I've been through a lot, some of it at a young age, and I've just learned to go with the flow.

There is one thing that I can not handle - seeing my baby in pain. I've always admired and been astounded by parents whose children have chronic problems because I just don't think I could handle it.

Molly developed a "diaper rash" while in the NICU. (I have to be careful how to word this - don't want the freaks coming upon my blog by way of Google searches). Basically, this was no "rash" I, the nurse, my mom (a physician) had ever seen. There were areas of No.Skin. It worsened until I finally called the pediatrician. They listed 20 things I could try, 90% of which I was already doing and it wasn't helping. We did start doing baking soda soaks and tried multiple types of diaper cream. It slowly improved, but now started looking like severe scarring. On mom's recommendation, I made a pediatrician appointment.

The pedi said it was unlike anything she's seen before. She thought it looked like BURNS. (She later consulted a pediatric dermatologist who agreed that yes, it sounded like chemical burns that some babies get from their poop). She's now on antibiotic cream and Triple Paste which we layer "an inch thick". Needless to say, that tiny $8 tube of Triple Paste goes fast.

But the thing is, she Screams. Like she is being tortured, which in a way, she is. She is in such obvious pain that I can barely stand to change her. Since mom has been here most of this week so I can continue to recover, she has been on Molly-duty. I have to be otherwise occupied in the other room because I can't stand to hear her screaming. If I have to change her, I stand there and cry and try to finish as fast as I can. It is torture for a mommy.

We've been saying that if we can get this resolved, not only will she be a happier baby, but a lot of things will go smoother, because she will not constantly be requiring all of our attention. She'll sleep better and eat better and things will just all around improve.

ETA: While this post was in draft, we had another injury. Earlier, Hunter fell while on the trampoline and landed on his elbow. He came in crying and refusing to let us even look at it. He finally fell asleep on the couch. Well, I went over to check it out after he had been asleep a while and it is swollen, bruised, and full of fluid. Soooo, looks like we'll be headed for the ER first thing in the a.m. I just keep saying, "at least we've met our deductible for this year".

For your viewing pleasure

Wanna see the rest of those baby pictures? You must not because not even one of you posted on my teaser and how cute those baby feet were. :pout:

But I like to show off so I'll post 'em anyway.

http://jamiewoodwardphotography.com/gallery/obryant/

And if you're a sucker for a good cry, make sure the sound is on. Or is that just me because they are my progeny?

If you're local and need some pics of your family, make sure you give Jamie a call :)

Teaser

It is almost 4 a.m. I have just finished feeding the babies and I'm waiting for them to decide if they are going to sleep before I get comfortable in the bed.

So, I just have a few minutes (I hope) and thought I'd post this little teaser.

We got the pictures from the newborn session with Jamie.

I love sweet baby feet :) More to come....

Five minutes in my life

So J. called today and wanted to know if she could come by and drop something off. Sure, nothing's happening around here, it's pretty quiet, come on by. And then...

Molly started crying so I changed her diaper.
And Emily started crying.
Molly's clothes had poo on them so I have to find new ones.
But first I wrapped her up and went in to comfort Emily quickly.
Took Molly back to find clothes.
Someone besides me put up the baby clothes; can't find anything.
I hear Cooper fussing.
Go comfort him; Molly still naked.
Scott texts me.
Continue looking for clothes for Molly.
Dress Molly.
Emily is crying again.
Change her diaper.
Mom texts me.
Text Scott back.
Text Mom back.
Comfort Emily.
Cooper is crying.
Change Cooper.
Still crying.
Decide it is time for bottles.
No bottles made.
Start to mix formula.
Assemble bottle parts.
Scott texts me.
Text him back.
Molly is crying.
Emily is crying.
Cooper is crying.
Doorbell rings.
Mom texts me.
Scott calls.
Answer door. It is J. She has paperwork.
Fill out paperwork.
Scott calls again (because I didn't answer).
Mom texts again.
Try to talk with J. over babies crying.
J. leaves.
Text Scott: "Can't talk now"
Text Mom.
Go back to bottle making.
Can of formula empty.
Open new can.
Slice finger open on rim of can.
Grab towel to soak up blood.
Scoop up powdered formula; try not to bleed into formula.
Molly is crying.
Emily is crying.
Cooper is crying.
Run to living room and comfort them.
Go back to finish formula.
Spill formula.
Mop it up with towel. Hope it's not the same one I bled on.
Pour up bottles.
Warm bottles.
Go look for Band Aid.
Molly is crying.
Emily is crying.
Cooper is crying.
Mom texts.
Scott texts.
Try to text back; bleed on phone.
No Band Aids.
Still bleeding.
Molly is crying.
Emily is crying.
Cooper is crying.
Bottles are ready.
Mom arrives.
Molly is asleep.
Emily is asleep.
Cooper is asleep.

Mom says: "Well, at least it's quiet."

Assemble make-shift Band Aid with cut up breast pad and freezer/masking tape.

Wouldn't you be tired, too?

Slight relapse

I started having increased pain yesterday and have been pretty well laid up since. I had to make Scott come home from work because I COULD NOT handle the babies. I had my follow up appointment with the surgeon today. His diagnosis is that I have been doing too much. So, it's back to Spa a la Mom for another weekend of relaxation. I HAVE to recover fully or I could have serious complications.

So I have a pile of DVDs, scrapbooking good stuff, newly printed pictures, and a couple of knitting projects.

I expect to be bored before midnight, LOL.

Fingers crossed for poor Daddy managing the babies for an entire weekend by himself again. Mom and I at least have plans to entertain the twins and get them out of his hair.

See ya!