Teething

The girls are getting those teeth. Squeaky has 2 teeth at the bottom front. They are coming in nicely. Blondie has one tooth starting to come through at the bottom front. No teeth for Little Man yet. We think he's jealous and might be considering dentures.

The Martians Have Landed

Some of the weirdest sounds come from babies. Blondie has started making a sound that is like the Martians in the movie "Mars Attacks!" . If you're familiar with the movie, you'll know the sound I'm talking about. If not, here it is.

Father Fri...Hmmm...Sunday - Christmas Vacation

Today was the first Christmas with the kids. The best gift I'll get is a week of vacation that I'm starting tomorrow. I can spend all the time I want with the kids until I go back to work on January 3. Yeah!!!

Photos Added

This is our third posting today. That must be a record for us.

Merry Christmas!!!

We're a few days early - Merry Christmas to all our readers!!!

Our Online Photos

We discovered something this morning about the photos we're storing online through flickr. You can only store 200 images online if you have the free account. If you upgrade to a premium account, you get more space. So, if you're looker for older images and they have disappeared, that's why. Does anyone know of a better free online photo storage service?

6 Month Doctor Visit

We went to the doctor today for the 6 month visit. Here are the weights and lengths -

Little Man - 14 lbs 13 oz, 25 3/4"
Squeaky - 14 lbs 12 oz, 25 3/8"
Blondie - 12 lbs 2 oz, 24 3/8"

The biggest surprise of the visit - the doctor realized that Squeaky has a tooth. We had no idea. Let's hope the other teeth for her and everyone else come in as easily as this one did.

The Best Laid Plans Of Mice and Multiples...

Another Sunday morning. We tried to get everyone ready so we could go to church. Obviously, the kids had other plans for the day. Little Man wouldn't eat, stop crying or get into his car seat. Blondie wouldn't stop crying once we got her into her car seat. Squeaky... she sat sleeping in her car seat and just snored. Oh, what a day it's been.

Father Friday - Christmas Time Is Coming

Everybody keeps asking us questions like this - "Are you ready for Christmas?", "Are you excited about seeing the kids open their presents?". I'm not sure how to answer those questions. Sure, we're excited about Christmas, but in a different way. We haven't had time to focus on buying gifts this year. It's nice to not be caught up in the commercialism of Christmas. This year, because we've been so busy with the kids and family, we're more focused on what's really important - the birth of Jesus, new kids that are a gift everyday to us, family and friends. Are we excited about Christmas? Yes, we are and for what we think are the right reasons.

In The Minority?

When we didn't have kids, it seemed like we were in the minority. All our friends had kids and we just felt "out of place". Now we have triplets and we feel like we're in the minority again because most of our friends have one or two kids. Even if they have more, they aren't the same age. It's just different. Do any other parents of multiples feel this way?

If Only I Had Six Arms

Sometime I wish I had six arms. I would be able to hold everyone at the same time, feed them at the same time, change them at the same time. It's heartbreaking to be feeding one baby and have another look at you with a "Why aren't you feeding me?" look.

And yes, the father found the Spiderman image for this posting.

Photos Added

Our First Meal In A Restaurant

Today was our first meal in a restaurant will all 3 kids. The father has an annual Christmas luncheon with friends. They try to see who can make the tackiest Christmas gift and bring it for exchange. I tagged along today because I was leaving Bible study about the same time they were meeting. It was so nice to be able to get out and enjoy a meal in a restaurant. Everyone behaved and there were no crying outbursts.

Sometimes No News Is All The News There Is

Yes, you read that correctly. No really funny stories to post. No big problems to report. Everything seems to be going smoothly. That's a good thing.

A New Perspective

Because we've been getting out a bit more, we have a new perspective on places that provide accessibility for everyone.

We usually get around with a single stroller and a double stroller. We've found it difficult to manuever when buildings don't provide ramps at sidewalks, automatic opening doors, lots of easily accessible elevators, ramps that aren't too steep, etc.

Last Friday, we went to a Christmas party at a museum. When we were leaving, we discovered that someone had parked and blocked the ramp on the sidewalk. We had to travel farther than necessary so we could get the strollers to our vehicles.

It's amazing how a small change can make you see things in a new way.

Blondie Too

Blondie rolled belly to back today too.

Little Man's Roll

Little Man rolled from his belly to his back today!!!

Triple-Teamed

The last few days, we've both been triple-teamed by the kids. It's like they know when either the mother or father is alone. We'll be trying to feed one and the other two will start crying or screaming. You can stop feeding the one to work with the other two, but then the one you left will start crying because they want to eat.

Photos Added

Twenty things that change when you have a baby

The list should be longer than twenty. Everything changes, but in a good way.

The Times, They Are A Changin'

We realized this weekend just how much things have changed over the past few weeks. The amount of time between feedings has increased. Most of the time, the babies cry less. They're sleeping through the night (except for Little Man's nightly outburst). We've been able to sit down and have more meals together. We were even able to get the Christmas tree (without decorations) up this weekend. Yes, things are definitely changing.

Christmas Photo Preview

We've been working on a Christmas photo. As you can see from these photos, the kids didn't seem too excited about it.

Holiday Plans for 5

We're scaling back this year on all the holiday activities. It's more of a challenge to travel with 5. We also have to plan to get back home in time to put the babies to sleep.

Father Friday - Things You Never Seem To Have Enough Of With Multiples

There are lots of things you never seem to have enough of with multiples -

• diapers
• baby wipes
• clean clothes for everyone
• bottles filled and ready
• ways to amuse the kids
• clean dishes
• sleep
• patience
• time

Hmmm, if only there was a way to combine some of these...

Where Can We Get A Helper Like This?

He's In The Jailhouse Now

Well, not really, but we did discover that Little Man enjoys sitting in a laundry basket. He didn't want to be in his playpen one night and the father was in the kitchen trying to load the dishwasher. He popped Little Man in a laundry basket and he was happy to sit there while the father talked to him and loaded the dishwasher.

RSV

It was back to the doctor today for the second round of RSV injections. The pediatrician recommended everyone take the injections because they were born premature and would be less than 6 months old at the start of the RSV season. The injections are given monthly until the RSV season is over.

The amount of medicine given in each injection is based on the weight of the baby. We were a bit surprised today when we learned everyone's latest weights.
Little Man - 13 lbs 10 oz
Squeaky - 13 lbs 8 oz
Blondie - 11 lbs 10 oz

What's In My Mouth???

Based on the pediatrician's suggestion, we started rice cereal this weekend. It seemed to go well with Little Man and Squeaky, but Blondie wasn't crazy about it.

They're Back

Runny nose. Coughing. Take your pick. They're back and we're sharing.

Something For Their Scrapbooks

This week, the kids received their "congratulations on your birth" cards from the President. Regardless of your political affiliation, what parent wouldn't like their kid to receive a card from the President? If you're interested in getting one, you can send a letter to the White House.

White House
Greetings Office
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Just send a copy of your baby's birth announcement or write a note with the birth date and name.

Talking to Each Other

The babies have started "talking" to each other. When they face each other, they just sit, smile and chatter. Squeaky is the most vocal, followed by Little Man and then Blondie.

Distractions That Help Calm The Kids

When it comes to calming the triplets, we've tried lots of things. We ran across this posting on daddytypes.com. He talks about how badgerbadgerbadger had a mesmerizing effect on his son. We decided to give it a try. It worked. It seemed to distract the babies enough to calm them. We've also used the visualizations in Windows Media Player as a distraction. That seemed to work as well.

Photos Added

Walk A Mile In Our Shoes (The Weekend of Baby Meltdowns)

It all started like a normal weekend. We went Saturday morning to get a photo made for Christmas. The rest of the day was calm. It was only around early evening when things started getting ugly.

Little Man was napping and his pacifier fell out. Instead of just continuing to sleep, he started crying. I don't mean a small cry or whimper. I mean a full scale, bust your eardrums cry. We both took turns trying to calm him. There wasn't much we could do to console him. He cried so hard he made himself throw-up. He calmed down some after this. About this time, Squeaky started crying. Each of us had one of them and we did our best to get them to stop crying. We thought things would get better. How wrong we were.

It was Little Man's bath night, so we decided to go ahead with one because he seemed calmer and he needed it now. Big mistake. He started crying near the end of the bath. He didn't want to eat. He didn't want to stop crying. What did he want??? We were finally able to get him calm enough to eat some and he went to sleep and so did we suddenly realizing that we hadn't been able to eat dinner because of all the crying and baby calming.

Sunday started off like a good day too. Nothing much to say about it until we started the final feeding. Little Man drank his full bottle and was happy. This was not going to be the case for Squeaky and Blondie. Little Man had done most of the crying the night before and now it was their turn. I don't remember who started first, but eventually both of them were crying and spitting up. We went round and round with them trying to calm them. We took turns with each them and did our best to calm them. They eventually stopped crying and went to sleep.

What a weekend. We haven't had two bad nights like that in a long time.

Father Friday - Washing Clothes

It's amazing how much laundry you wash with multiples. We wash at least one load of clothes every day during the week just to keep the laundry baskets (yes, one for the parents and one for the kids) at a reasonable level. It's two or three loads each day on the weekends to get the baskets empty. You have lots of bibs and burb clothes, outfits that get spit-up on them, day clothes and night clothes, blankets and more. People told us we should keep a count of how many diapers we use for all of them. I wish we were keeping a count of the loads of laundry.

Talk, Talk, Talk

Everybody is "talking" more lately and becoming more vocal. We spend a lot of time talking to them and reading to them, so that must be the reason. Of course, we have no idea what they're saying, but it's fun to sit and have a "conversation" with them.

A Lip-Smacking Good Time

Squeaky has started smacking her lips a lot. It's really funny to watch and hear her do it. It doesn't always mean she is hungry. She just seems to enjoy it. I guess it's like whistling to her.

Happy Halloween

No photo to post for today yet, just a comment. People were asking the father at work where his costume was. He started telling people he was dressed as a well-rested father of triplets with disposable income.

Time Change This Weekend

We were thinking about changing the feeding schedule times. I guess we'll get a chance this weekend when the time changes.

New Photos Added

Change the Feeding Schedule? Not Yet

We've looked at the amounts the kids are eating each time and how often they are eating. At their last doctor visit, we were informed they should be eating about 30 ounces each, every day. They aren't eating that much now and would only be getting less if we tried to change how often they eat (unless they started eating more). It looks like we'll be sticking with the existing feeding schedule for now until they start eating more at each feeding.

What's so special about 4am?

For almost the past 2 weeks, Little Man has decided to wake up at 4am. Sometimes it's just a whimper or two, sometimes a crying fit. Either are usually stopped by giving him his pacifier. He then goes back to sleep, but not usually before making enough noise to make the other 2 a bit restless. What can we do to stop this before it becomes a habit?

Father Friday - Calming Triplets

Can you imagine what it's like having three babies cry at one time? Can you imagine what it's like trying to run between them and calm them down? The only thing I can imagine it's like is plate spinning. You have to work with one, get them calm, move to the next one and calm them, hope the other one doesn't start crying again, move to the next one...keep repeating.

Need a Stroller Upgrade?

Maybe we can enlist these guys to fix-up the triple stroller.

Weights and Lengths

Here are the official weights and lengths from the 3 month doctor visit. Little Man is at 12 lbs 11 oz and 23 3/4". Squeaky is at 12 lbs 5 oz and 24 3/8". Blondie is at 10 lbs 9 oz and 23". As you can see, all have grown considerably.

We also found out that we have to continue the higher calorie formula for one more month and then we can move them to regular formula.

We can also start trying to increase the amount of time between feedings during the day to 4 hours. That's going to take some time to adjust the schedules. We have some thoughts about doing that, but we're not sure of the best way. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Ouch! More Immunizations Today

It's back to the doctor today for another check-up and more immunizations. Let's hope it goes as smoothly as last time.

How much will the babies have grown? How much more will they weigh? Will we be able to take the girls off the higher calorie formula? Will we be able to increase the amount of time between feedings to more than 3 hours? These answers and more will be learned today.

How about these for Halloween?

Would we really need to have the kids wear a Halloween costume if they had one of these pacifiers?From PrankPlace.com

Another Fall Festival

Last Friday, we braved another fall festival with the kids. This one was larger than the last one. As we pushed the kids along in 2 strollers (2 in a double stroller and 1 in a single stroller), you could hear people talking. There were lots of comments about three babies and triplets. We were only asked questions when we stopped to talk to friends and family we saw. Maybe we should create a list of frequently asked questions and have copies to hand out when people stop and ask questions.

Going Solo

Today was my first outing with the triplets by myself. I'm thankful I had friends at my destination to help me unload the babies from the van and help me return them to the van. The father helped me load and unload them at home. It sure was a lot of work, but it was worth it to get out with them.

Illness, Illness, Go Away, Don't Come Again Another Day

Blondie is battling more illness. We found out yesterday that she has an ear infection. That has led to a round of antibiotics and more comforting to deal with the misery of being sick.

Changes

Things sure have changed over the last week. Little Man and Squeaky have become more vocal. They love to talk to us and sing along with our songs. Blondie tries a little, but she doesn't seem to be as interested as the other two. All three love to sit and watch us move around the room. They're smiling more and just seem to be happier (most of the time). They're becoming more interested in toys that make sounds and light up.

The Triple Crown

It's a huge day of celebration. All 3 slept through the night.

Two Down

Squeaky slept all night and Little Man continues to do so. Only one to go (unless they decide to stop it).

What Works Today Might Not Work Tomorrow

Isn't it amazing how things change? Just when we think we've figured out some things about the triplets. You know, like if they want more to eat, if they have a dirty diaper, if they're sleepy...

Everything seemed to change overnight and we're left guessing again. Oh, what a puzzle to solve.

Oh What A Night

Little Man slept through the night for the first time. Will it continue? Is it too early to say "one down, two to go?". Let's hope not.

Father Friday - 12 Weeks - A Look Back

I can't believe how time has flown. Wasn't it just a few days ago we were holding the babies in NICU? Things sure have changed over the last three months. They're eating more, using more diapers, looking at us and laughing more, sleeping more (or less - depending on the night), being more active, crying more, giving us less free time. And you know what? I wouldn't change a thing.

The Crying Avalanche

In the past, the babies have usually ignored each other when they cried. That's not the case now. When one baby starts crying, we have a short window of opportunity to calm them and stop the crying. If not, we have two crying and then three. You just can't describe that situation with words.

It's Spreading

Less than 24 hours since the last post and all are starting to exhibit some sniffles. So much for our hopes of it not spreading.

Isolation

We've broken out the Lysol and are using the hand sanitizer even more - Blondie is sick. She had to go to the doctor and was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection. She hasn't been running a fever, so hopefully the others won't get sick too. We've been trying to keep her separate from the others to help reduce that chance even more.

Twelve Weeks Old

Yesterday, we were 12 weeks old. How did we celebrate? By giving Mama and Daddy 30 minutes of simultaneous crying before and after this photo.

Photos Added

Photo Day

The babies are getting ready for their first official photos since the ones made at the hospital. We'll be talking them for the photos on Saturday. Now I have to decide what they should wear.

Keep On Staring

It finally happened. We knew it was coming. We were in a situation where people couldn't stop staring at us and the babies.

Recently we went to a local fall festival. As you can see in the photos, we've been to a park with the babies before, but this was the first time we had been somewhere with lots of people. As we were walking along, you could watch people stop and stare at us. Some people would try to be a bit sneakier. You would catch them trying to be discrete, but they were still counting the number of babies as we walked by.

We weren't out in any unusual way. Two babies were in the double stroller and one was in the Maximom Carrier. It seems normal to us at this point, but I guess it is unusual to see people with triplets. The way people were staring though, you would have thought we had a three-headed baby instead of three babies. I actually can't believe people didn't stop us and ask questions.

Well, just keep on staring. We're proud of our triplets.

I Love the Jump Start comic

Okay, it wasn't an SUV. It was a 2 door Honda. And it wasn't twins, but triplets. Anyway, this hits home.


From Jump Start.

Do We Look Bigger To You?

If you've thought the babies are starting to look larger in the photos, you are correct. A visit to the doctor yesterday revealed some big weight gains. Little Man is now 10 lbs 14 oz, Squeaky is 10lbs 4 oz and Blondie is 8lbs 15 oz.

Change of Season - Change of Clothes

I went to my first clothing consignment sale last week to start looking for clothes for fall and winter. It was hosted by the Mothers of Multiples group.

I think it's difficult to know what size clothes you should buy for the children to grow into. Little Man is in size 0-3 months. Squeaky can wear newborn size and some 0-3 month size clothing. Blondie is starting to move out of the preemie size and into newborn clothing.

How fast will they grow over the next 6 months? If only there was a easy way to know what size they would need in 3 or 6 months.

The Power of Naps

It was a nice uneventful weekend and we were able to nap on Saturday and Sunday. What a difference that made on those two days. If only the restoration had lasted until today. I'm tired again.

Photos Added

Sweet Sleep

We've had two restful nights the last week. Restful by triplet standards. All 3 slept for 5 1/2 hours. How nice that was. Of course, by the time you finish feeding the last baby and put them down to sleep, you've lost almost 1 1/2 hours of the total time. Oh, who cares - that's 4 hours of undisturbed sleep for us. Maybe we're starting to see the end of the sleepless tunnel.

Singing to the babies

We both enjoy singing to the babies. The mother usually sings true songs. The father enjoys making up his own. It's interesting to hear what he comes up with. Some of the ones he has created so far are "Drink It On Down", "Don't You Cry (Let Me Tell You Why)" and "Time to Wash Your Face". Maybe we have an album of children's songs in the works.

Similac 1, Fussiness 0

Well it seems like the new Similac formula has worked. Little Man's amount of fussiness and gasiness has been greatly reduced. We couldn't be happier and he seems happier about it too.

Little Man and His Little Belly

Little Man is still having problems with reflux and gas. We've tried Prevacid and Zantac, but neither have helped that much. We've been instructed by the pediatrician to switch him to a soy-based forumla. He's now using Similac Isomil Advance Soy Formula with Iron. According to the can and the website - "Many times a soy formula is easier for babies with delicate tummies to digest. Clinical evidence supports that switching to Isomil Advance will provide a substantial reduction in common feeding problems in most infants in 3 days." The clock is ticking.

Things Are Changing

Things have started changing some with the babies. The pediatrician told us that between 2 and 3 months, we should start routines that will become habits for the babies - bedtime, where they sleep...

The first big change that we enacted last night was the sleeping arrangements. The babies have been moved to their separate cribs. It was more traumatic for us than them. They actually seemed to sleep better. Until now, the babies all moved to the center of the crib around each other. The baby that was in the center was surrounded like worker bees around the queen. And once one of them started squirming or poking on another, it wasn't long before all 3 of them were awake.

Last night, when one of them started squirming or crying because they were hungry, it didn't seem to have any effect on the other 2.

Coming to a Street Near You - A Van Full of Triplets

Yes, we finally have a minivan. Now the triplets will be riding in style and more comfort.

Need Some Sleep? Just Take A Pill.

Having multiples insures sleep deprivation. You know eventually the babies will sleep through the night and so will you. Until then, you just struggle through it. I now see why the military uses sleep deprivation as an interrogation technique.

I found this article that shows new parents might have some relief in the future. I wonder if we could be test subjects now?

Dueling Babies

A couple of nights ago, we had our very own version of dueling banjos, I mean babies.

It was almost feeding time and 2 of the babies started going back and forth with their "I'm getting ready to eat" whimper. It was funny because one would start just as soon as the other would finish and they kept going back and forth until we gave them their bottles.

If you aren't familiar with the Dueling Banjos song and the point behind this post, take a look at this bizarre animation.

Rent - A - Child?

Maybe this lady would like to sponsor one of the triplet's college education.

Motivational Speaking?

I've decided that parents of multiples should be motivational speakers. Where else can you find experts at dealing with multiple tasks, time limits and supply/demand while contending with no time and limited resources? It should be easy to transfer those skills to the workplace where everyone expects you to do that stuff anyway. Now if only parents of multiples had the time to share their knowledge.

Photos Added

Doctor Doctor, Give Me The News

Well, except for the father, we've all been to the doctor this week. I had an appointment on Monday. The doctor was happy with everything and I seem to be well on my way to a complete recovery.

The babies went to the doctor yesterday. The pediatrician was happy with the way they were developing. Here are their latest weights - Little Man - 8 lbs 13 oz, Squeaky - 8 lbs 1 ounce, Blondie - 7 lbs 3 oz. They've grown bunches since they were born.

They also had their next round of immunizations. It was not a fun time. Each baby had 5 injections. It was really too much for a parent to endure. Like all babies, they were not happy with the shots. We were passing out the Tylenol. After a few restless hours of off-and-on crying, they seemed to have a peaceful night.

Father Friday on a Monday - Sometimes The Grass Isn't Greener In Your Own Yard

I thought of this entry on Friday, but I couldn't find the comic I had seen that would complete the story until today.

I was mowing the yard on Friday. I'm a yard man. I love being outside - mowing the grass, tending to the flowers, trimming the trees, anything in the yard. When I was mowing Friday, I noticed the yard didn't look as nice as earlier years. That bothered me.

When I was growing up, I learned how important it is to maintain your yard and keep things looking nice. I have let things slide this year. There are some weeds in the flower beds, some bare spots in the grass, tree limbs that are too low and should be removed, hedges that I haven't trimmed yet ...

I have let things slide because I had been taking of the wife during the pregnancy and now taking care of our children. When I looked at the yard in that perspective, it didn't bother me as much. It also reminded of this Baby Blues comic I had seen in July.

Doctor appointments

It's two days of doctor appointments this week. I have to return to the doctor for my final check-up.

The babies return to the pediatrician tomorrow. It's time for them to receive more immunizations. We're not looking forward to that. Especially after reading what happened with the Curletto twins the day they received their injections.

What Goes Down Sometimes Comes Up

We've been battling reflux problems with the babies. According to the pediatrician, this isn't an uncommon problem. Little Man has the biggest problem. We have to keep him upright for at least 30 minutes after eating or he'll spit up a lot of his meal. He's even on Prevacid to help with the problem.

Photos Added

We've Got Answers For You

Here are some answers to questions we received.

Since you are breastfeeding as well as bottle-feeding, how do you keep track of who is next and what they get? Do you nurse two at a time (tandem) or just one at a time?
We keep a log of feedings and diaper changes. The babies are rotated. One baby is nursed and the other 2 receive a bottle. At the next feeding, the nursed baby is rotated out and another baby rotated in for nursing. The other 2 receive bottles. If the nursed baby still acts hungry after finishing, it gets a bottle just to help fill them up. All are supplemented with a higher calorie formula because they were premature. I tried nursing tandem, but it didn't work that well. Right now, it's one at a time.

How many diapers are you using?
We go through a minimum of 24 diapers each day. Three babies changed at least each time they eat (every 3 hours). If necessary, they are changed more often, therefore increasing the number of diapers.

How much are they eating?
Each baby eats approximately 3 ounces at each feeding. Eight feedings a day. Approximately three hours between each feeding.

How much formula do you use?
We're currently using Similac Neosure Advance formula. It's the higher 22 calorie formulation. It's sold as a powder in a 12.8 ounce can. We've been buying it by the case - 6 cans at a time. Those 6 cans don't last more than 5 - 6 days. As you can see, that's a lot of formula in a week.

Can you tell the babies apart?
Yes, we can.

Do they have different personalities yet?
Those are slowly starting to emerge.

Do you get any rest or naps?
Not as often as we would like.

How do you keep things going during the day?
We have a schedule to follow. It makes it easier to have things planned out and know what will be happening when.

Does one crying baby wake the others?
Sometimes, but not always. The other babies might wake up and cry too, but we've also seen them look at their sibling with a "Why are you crying?" look on their face.

Email us with more questions and we'll get them answered.

You've Got Questions, We've Got Answers

Lots of people have been wanting to know different things about the babies and how we are able to get anything done during the day and night. Email us your questions and we'll post an entry covering the questions and our answers.

"You Say It's Your Birthday..."

Even though the triplets have been with us for almost 6 weeks, today is their official due date. It could have been their birthday, but that wasn't the case.

We're Celebrities

Our first bit of publicity. We were featured as the "Pic of the Day" on a local news station this morning. Thanks to our friend Amelia that sent in the photo.

Sleepy Time

We've been playing lullabies at bedtime to calm the babies and help them go to sleep. There are lots of choices out there. One of our favorites is "Sleep Sound in Jesus" by Michael Card.

We were looking at the lullaby CDs last night and noticed some interesting songs on one entitled Drew's Famous Sweet Lullabies for Mother and Child. The CD has lullaby versions of "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns N' Roses and "Alright For Now" by Tom Petty. Rock on, babies!!!

A Quick Update

Just a quick post to keep everyone updated. The babies are doing well - eating lots and gaining weight. They return to the pediatrician mid-August for another check-up. That's almost the same time I return to the doctor for another post-surgery check-up. All of us are doing our best to keep things going on very little sleep and a schedule that works for the babies.

Father Friday - I Love That Maximom Carrier

What Is Wrong With This Story?

This scares me.

A father and mother were arrested in Raleigh, NC for child abuse. The charge was based on a roll of film they had developed at an Eckerd. A photo showed the father kissing his naked son on the belly button. The father was charged with sexually assaulting his son and the mother was charged with taking sexually explicit photos. Here's the story. The charges were dropped after the father spent six months in prison.

Is it just me or is society overly sensitive about everything?

I Can Eat Freely Now

It's nice to be able to eat more things now. Things like more chocolate, caffeinated drinks, soft Mexican cheeses...

I was careful during the pregnancy about what I was eating. I haven't gone crazy now either because I'm still nursing, but it's nice to have a little more freedom when it comes to food choices.

Need Some Help? Yes, Please.

I just have to say again that we wouldn't have been able to make it so far without the help we have received. Different people from church have provided us with meals. That makes such a difference when you really don't have the time to prepare a meal. Sometimes you don't even feel like you have the time to eat a meal.

In addition, we've had a people there to help watch the babies while we make an unexpected trip to the doctor or just take a few minutes and get a nap. My mom has also been able to temporarily move in with us. She's been able to help keep things going with all three. It makes a big difference.

The Minivan Cometh

In an attempt to use the cars we have to the fullest, we've been loading all 3 babies into the back seat of our Toyota Camry and putting the stroller in the truck. It works, but it isn't the ideal situation. We had hoped to put off the minivan purchase longer, but it's really a hassle to try and load everything into the Camry. It's time to start shopping and get a vehicle large enough for 5 and all the accessories. Hey, at least we made it a month with our current cars.

Oh the Things You'll Hear - Being a Family of Multiples

These sound familar to us.

New Photos Added

Father Friday # 3 - Big Brother Is Watching Your Baby

How well would this work for triplets when they become more mobile? An apparel maker is creating children's sleepwear with RFID. When the children are wearing it, they can be located easily. They say the product is made to made to protect children from abductors. I think the clothing would be even handier when the triplets become teenagers.

Father Friday - Double Feature

Here are two posts I've been saving up. One funny. One serious.

Honey, I Jinxed The Baby

If you look at the photos we have posted on flickr, you'll see that each baby has a nickname. Squeaker got her nickname because when she came home, she would get the hiccups a lot. When she did, they didn't sound like hiccups. They sounded like the "yippy" squeak-like sound a small dog makes when it's barking. I can only think that it's my fault.

When the ultrasounds were made to determine the sex of the babies, she was the one that a guess. At that time, we thought she was a girl, but we weren't 100% sure. I used to jokingly tell people we were having a boy, girl and a puppy. I think she must have heard me say that.

I'm a Victim of Postpartum Something

Postpartum depression has been in the news a lot lately - mainly because of Tom Cruise. He certainly has a right to his opinion, but something happened when we started bringing the babies home. I think I was a victim of postpartum depression that affects dads.

Lots of men gain weight or have sympathy pains during the pregnancy. I experienced none of that. Nothing notable occurred until the babies were born.

In my mind, I had this idea that the mother would come home without any problems and that the babies would come home in a few days from the NICU. We would hit the ground running with the new family. What a shock it was to me when the mother started having some problems from the c-section. Not only that, but the babies were coming home a bit slower than I had anticipated. It suddenly occurred to me that I still had to deal with the slow healing of the mother, care for three babies that were scattered between home and the hospital and balance the needs of home and the workplace. It was too much.

For about five days, I was in a haze. I had no idea how to handle everything. The depression and stress were taking their toll. I started having chest pain and I realized I had to get a grip on things or I was going to start having health problems. Thankfully this was temporary and as the mother started healing and all the babies came home, the stress level decreased. I now take everything in stride and have a healthy balance between everything.

So what's the point of this? Having a baby, or babies, is really stressful and can affect everyone. It takes some time to adjust to the changes. Don't forget to laugh and keep in mind that the hard times are only temporary. And if you really think you have postpartum depression, don't ignore it.

Thank You Cards and Phone Calls - Time Isn't On My Side

Once again, I'm behind on sending thank you cards and returning phone calls. I have a list of people I want to call and another list of people that I need to send a thank you card to. If you are one of them and you are reading this, please know I haven't forgotten you and your generosity. I just haven't found the time to properly contact you yet.

Day Planning

Who knew it would be so difficult to accomplish so little during the day? No matter how much or how little we plan to do during the day, we seem to run out of time before we gets things completed. Today we had two appointments - one in the morning and one in the afternoon. It seemed like one appointment ran into the other and we had to rush from one to the other. You always have to pack the diaper bag for such circumstances. Lots of clothes, blankets, diapers, wipes and bottles. We've learned quickly there is no such thing as being overprepared when you have triplets.

Lose Weight Now - Ask Me How

Lose Weight The Triplet Way!!!

I'm amazed at the amount of weight I've lost. After the triplets were born, I was 41 pounds lighter. I went to the doctor yesterday and was even more amazed to learn I'm within 5 pounds of my weight at 7 weeks pregnant. A lot of weight was lost when the babies were delivered, but I guess more has been lost because I'm breastfeeding, I seem to be awake the majority of the day and I've lost lots of fluid I accumulated during the pregnancy.

The Final Belly Measurement - 34 Weeks

The Price of Baby Formula

In addition to the breast milk the babies are getting, they are eating a baby formula made especially for preemies. It's a higher calorie formulation designed to "pack the pounds" on their little bodies. We've been amazed at the price. Even searching on the internet, we can't find it for a lower price than we can purchase it at local stores. We've contacted the local stores to see if we can purchase unopened cases at a discounted price, but they have been unwilling to go along with that. I can't help but believe the prices could be lower. You know it's really bad when you find baby formula coupons for auction on eBay or read stories about stores locking up formula because people are stealing it and returning it for a large cash refund.

Sleep - Who Needs It?

We have learned over the past 2 1/2 weeks just how far you can go on very little sleep. The babies eat every 3 hours. It takes about 1 hour to feed, burp and change all 3. That's if all 3 are cooperating. With that schedule, we have about 2 hours to sleep between each routine with the babies. This reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Kramer tries to use the Da Vinci sleep schedule to give himself 22 hours of awake time each day. We should probably work on using that schedule too.

Homecoming

We finally have all 3 babies at home. What a nice feeling to have the family together.

Finally Some Photos

We've added some photos here. Not all of them have captions. We just get a little finished each day.

Preemies - They Do Come With Instructions

When the two babies were discharged from the hospital, we were given information about how to care for them - feeding, bathing, taking temperatures, etc. When the last one is discharged, we'll be given the same information. One thing we had failed to consider was the restrictions placed on them because they are premature. We have to do our best to protect the babies from any possible illness they could encounter. We have to continually wash our hands or use hand sanitizer. Any visitors have to follow the same restrictions. We have to keep them away from any children that are in daycare. We were told we shouldn't take them to church because of possible illnesses they could encounter there. All of these restrictions are in place until they reach their actual birth date - August 9.

Father Friday - Emotional Rollercoaster

This past week has been more emotional than I could have ever imagined. I was so elated because of the birth of the babies. I can't describe the happiness I felt. We had been praying for children for so long and the day finally arrived. The only thing that darkened the week was coming home with one baby and leaving 2 at the hospital. It was so heartbreaking. When the second baby came home, it wasn't any easier. Everytime we visit the remaining baby at the hospital and then have to leave, it seems to tear me apart dealing with the separation. As difficult as it will be at home with three babies, I'll be so much happier when our family is together.

The Birth Announcements

Last Wednesday, June 29, we reported to the hospital for the scheduled C-section. It was a relatively smooth day and the babies were born at the scheduled time. The babies actually were born in the order they had been monitored in my belly - A, B and then C. Baby A, codename "Little Man", was born at 11:30am with a weight of 4 lbs 9.8 oz and a length of 19 inches. Baby B, codename "Squeaky", was born at 11:31am with a weight of 4 lbs 5.4 oz and a length of 18 inches. Baby C, codename "Blondie", was born at 11:32am with a weight of 3 lbs 14.5 oz and a length of 16 1/2 inches.

For four days, I stayed in the hospital recovering from my C-section. On Sunday, we came home with Squeaky. On Tuesday, Little Man was discharged and came home with us. We're still waiting on Blondie to come home. She is currently scheduled to come home with us this Tuesday. We're just trying to wait patiently on her arrival. Because she was the smallest baby, she has had some problems maintaining her body weight and has had a few episodes with her heartrate and oxygen levels decreasing. At this point, she is doing better, and if that continues she'll be home with us soon.

Return To Reality

Where have we been? What's been happening? It's all been a blur for over a week now. Two babies at home at home, one in NICU. Taking care of the two at home and trying to visit the one remaining in the NICU while trying to maintain sanity with a three hour feeding schedule. We can only imagine (or maybe we can't) what it's going to be like when all 3 are at home. We think it will be easier because we won't have to divide our time between two locations. I guess we'll see.

No Posts Yet - Sorry For The Delay

We're doing a poor job of keeping this site updated now. We're trying to sleep, take care of the 2 babies at home and visit the one still in NICU. We hope to add more stories and photos soon.

2 Photos - More Details and Photos to Follow

Have we really spent 4 days at the hospital? It doesn't seem like it. We haven't had access to a computer or the internet, so it has been impossible to update everyone. This is just a quick posting with a couple of photos. More details and photos will follow later.

The End - The Beginning

Well, today is the end of the pregnancy and the beginning of three new lives outside my belly. As I sit and type that, it still amazes me.

Lots of people have been asking us about the babies and NICU. We've learned that the babies will be going to NICU once they are born. It's the hospital's policy that all babies born before 35 weeks go to NICU, even if it's for a short time.

It will probably be a few days before we have another post to the site. We'll get it updated as soon as possible and hope to have some photos to add too.

Happy Birth Day to the triplets!!!

Only One More Day

Has it really been 34 weeks? Where has time gone? I'm so thankful to be at this point.

Scheduled

I've been scheduled for a c-section. It's this Wednesday. I have the last non-stress test tomorrow. We also have an anesthesia meeting after the test. Then it will be time to head back home and get my luggage in the car for the hospital visit the next day.

When I was at the non-stress test on Friday, they performed a measurement ultrasound. The sizes of the babies amazed me. They were 4lbs 12 oz, 4lbs 10 oz and 3lbs 14oz. Those are great sizes for triplets.

Father Friday - "Firsts"

I've been thinking about the first time we'll get to do things with the kids. Here's a short list of a few of the "firsts" I'm looking forward to.

• The first time we take them for ice cream
• The first time I can sit and play my guitar and we sing songs together
• The first time we get to blow soap bubbles
• The first time we go to church together
• The first time we get to run in the rain
• The first time we get to jump in mud puddles
• The first time we pull them in the little red wagon I had as a child
• The first time we look at a rainbow and discuss the meaning
• The first time we just sit and laugh
• The first time I get to sit and hold all of them on my lap
• The day we bring all of them home

It won't be very long until we start working on that list.

No News Is...Not What I Expected

The visit to the doctor yesterday was not what I expected. The measurement ultrasound - it didn't happen. The sonographer that usually scans multiples wasn't in the office. The date for the C-section - it won't be decided on until Friday when I go for the non-stress test. They have tentatively said it will be performed next Tuesday or Wednesday, but we have to wait to get a definite date and time. They've also decided to perform the measurement ultrasound on Friday after the non-stress test. All they did at the doctor's office yesterday was listen to the heartbeats of the babies and answer some questions I had.

Faster and Faster

Yesterday was the fastest non-stress test yet. All three babies finished between 30 and 40 minutes. I was amazed how little time it took this visit. Each test has taken less time to complete.

Today is also the day I find out about scheduling the C-section. It's a big day.

Another Day, Another Test

It's back to the hospital again today for another NST and then a steroid injection. I received the first steroid injection yesterday. Only two will be administered, so today will be the last one. I get to celebrate a little more today because I've reached 33 weeks.

I'll be glad when I get back home today and can possibly take a nap. It was another sleepless night. It seems like I have one good night of sleep (translation - 5-6 hours of sleep) and then a couple of sleepless nights. That's really starting to wear me down.

Goals

I seem to be making it through the pregnancy easier now that I have 2 goals in front of me. The first one is this Wednesday. That's when I make the appointment for the C-section during the 34th week. The second goal will be the day of the scheduled C-section.

Misinformation

I was informed yesterday that I received incorrect information about the steroid injections. The doctor that told me I wouldn't need the injections after week 32 was the doctor I see most of the time if my regular doctor isn't available. Yesterday I was informed by my regular doctor that the injections would be beneficial up to week 34. I was also informed that I get to start taking them on Monday.

No Sleep - No Post

I've been up almost all night feeling the babies move around. No news to report today.

Two Weeks Notice

Here's the big news - the babies could be arriving within two weeks! That's the latest information from the doctor.

Based on the discussion we had with the doctor, they are still aiming for 34 weeks. If I make it to that point, they will schedule a C-section. If I go into labor before then, they'll just deliver the babies. I would prefer to make it to 34 weeks so we could schedule it. That way I would get my regular doctor rather than the doctor on call at the hospital. Who wouldn't want their regular doctor to perform the procedure?

My big concern was that they would want me to deliver the babies vaginally. I was told that with three babies, the most logical choice was a C-section, unless I want to try and deliver vaginally. (No thank you, I'll take the C-section.) The doctor said that delivering more than two without a C-section was a bit risky. They have to monitor all the babies during the delivery and it's a bit more difficult when there are more than two. They said I could start vaginally and then have to have a C-section for the other two. The way the babies are positioned now rules out anything other than a C-section anyway. Based on all of that, it sure sounds like a C-section is the smartest choice - safer for me and the babies.

We were told that I probably wouldn't need steroid injections for the babies. The doctor said they would only be given up through week 32. They would have to give them to me this week and they haven't decided to do that. They said the effects would be minimal after 32 weeks and the possible side effects wouldn't be worth the minor benefits that would be seen at this point.

The test at the hospital looked good again and they were very happy with the results. I'll still continue those twice a week until the babies are born.

Back from the doctor and back to the hospital

Yesterday was another doctor visit. They did a quick ultrasound to check the heartrates. All of them were good. The babies have moved though. Up until now, all of the babies had been in almost the same position each week. It was easy to keep up with A (the boy) and B and C. Now it seems like they have been playing Twister in there. The boy has now moved to the bottom and is in a horizontal position. The girls are head down, but blocked from exiting by the boy.

They were still happy with my progress and hope that I'll be able to make it to 34 weeks. I just count each day as a victory now because I've reached 32 weeks. Thirty-four weeks seems like a long way off even though it's only 2 more weeks.

Today I go back to the hospital for another NST.

Last Friday's Monitoring

It was time for monitoring at the hospital again last Friday. According to the doctor, everything looked great concerning the heartrates of the babies. The only thing that concerned the doctor was the contractions. They were really strong. Based on all the contraction monitoring they have been doing, these were about four times stronger than any other contractions they had detected. After the monitoring, the doctor performed a cervix check and there were minimal changes - only 20% effaced. It seems like I'm having all the fun of contractions without any of the normal results.

In addition to the contractions, I've been dealing with round ligament pain and what seems to be the weight of the babies as they start to move further down. They are putting a lot of pressure on my lower abdomen. Because of all these symptoms, I go back to the doctor today. This will be in addition to the twice-a-week monitoring at the hospital.

Father Friday - Seat Checks

Yesterday was a big step toward the arrival of the babies. I took our car, with the three infant seats in it, for an inspection at a location approved by SeatCheck. For more information about this service, read what their website has to say.



I'm one of the few men that actually read instruction manuals, so I felt reasonably comfortable about installing the seats. Of course, why should I pass up an opportunity to have the seats inspected by a professional? They were very helpful. It's their job to look at the way you have the seats installed, remove them and then work with you to install them again. At each step of the process, they were offering helpful tips and information. I had the seats installed correctly, but they showed me some safety checks that I hadn't thought about it. They even demonstrated the proper way to place the babies in the seats and make sure their belts fit correctly. They told me once we change vehicles, car seats or just remove the seats and have a question about reinstalling them, that I shouldn't hesitate to stop back by. I highly recommend this service to everyone that has a child still in a car seat.

In case anyone is wondering, we have the seats installed in the back seat of a Toyota Camry. Yes, all three fit in there.

Three Minutes

That's how long the longest contraction was yesterday. They're still coming at irregular intervals. One hour I might have 4 and then only one, or even none, the next hour. I never know when, how many or how severe they will be. I just have to keep a check on them and make sure they don't reach the criteria for going back to the hospital. I go back there tomorrow for another NST.

One Test Completed

I finished the first nonstress test (NST) yesterday. The doctor reviewed the results and was happy with them. He said all 3 babies passed the test. They finished the test in order of size - Baby A, Baby B and then Baby C. I still have to go back on Friday and twice next week for more of the same.

During the test, they were able to monitor the heartrates of the babies, their movement and the contractions I'm having. I learned something interesting yesterday. According to the doctor once a uterus gets to the size that it considers a full term pregnancy, it starts contracting. That's where I am now due to the 3 babies seeming like a full term pregnancy. He said that if the cervix didn't react to the contractions, it could provide more time for the babies to stay in. He said at some point the contractions could lessen slightly, therefore allowing more time for the uterus to grow and get larger as the babies grow more too. The human body is amazing.

More Testing

The doctor has decided I need to have more tests performed. I will now be going twice a week to the hospital for monitoring. During that time they will be checking the heartrates of the babies and monitoring the contractions.

Why are they doing this? They want to have a better understanding of how often the contractions are, how strong they are and how they are affecting the babies. They want to make sure the babies are handling the stress of the contractions, especially the smallest baby. They also want to make sure there aren't any problems with the placentas. This could be the reason the smallest baby is growing slower than the others.

What does this mean? If it looks bad for the babies, they could schedule a c-section. If things aren't that bad, but they think I need to go ahead and have a c-section in a few days, they will probably admit me to the hospital, give me some steroid injections to speed the development of the lungs of the babies and then perform a c-section in a few days. If things look good, I'll just continue on. The doctor is now saying he would like me to go to 33 or 34 weeks, if possible. Each time I talk to him he increases the amount of time by one week.

Contractions

It's been an interesting weekend. We were at the hospital on Saturday night for about 6 hours while they monitored my contractions. They started on Saturday during the day and became more regular and closer as the day progressed. I called the doctor's office and they told me to keep monitoring them. If they didn't go away in one hour from the phone call, I was to go to the hospital. They didn't stop so that's where we went.

At first, I wasn't sure if they were true contractions or Braxton Hicks contractions. Once we arrived at the hospital and they started monitoring me, it was confirmed that they were real.

My belly has been so tight for so long, I must have missed the really minor contractions when they started. These were called moderate by the nurses at the hospital.

When I arrived, the contractions were about 7 or 8 minutes apart. By the time I left the hospital, they were about 15 - 20 minutes apart. While I was there, they checked my cervix twice and it was still closed both times. They were very happy with that and so was I.

They seem to think that my uterus is just so large that it has started contractions because it thinks it's time to deliver the babies. They said I could continue to have contractions from now until the babies are born. They have actually been happening off and on since I left the hospital. I just have to keep a check on them and if they start to increase in severity or get really close to each other (about 1 or 2 minutes apart), then I have to head to the hospital again.

Father Friday - Parental lessons learned from "The Dirty Dozen"

It's time once again for another Father Friday. But first, here's some news about the mother.

The swelling in the legs and feet has become horrible. It's painful to stand and walk. The doctor said he could prescribe medicine to reduce the amount of fluid, but he's hesitant to do so. He said he would be more inclined to do it if it was a single pregnancy, but he doesn't like the idea of using the meds with multiples. Also, a rash has started appearing on the mother's legs. It's really itchy. The doctor said it was common during pregnancy and has prescribed an ointment that should help it.

Now another "tongue-in-cheek" Father Friday post. I was watching one of my favorite movies recently - "The Dirty Dozen". I've read articles and books on parenting multiples and how it can be difficult at times - much more difficult than a singleton (what a surprise). As I watched this movie, I thought maybe I could apply some of the lessons from the movie to being a parent of multiples. If you've seen the movie, you'll certainly know what I'm talking about. So here are the parental lessons I gleaned from the movie.

The children aren't always as bad as they appear to be.
Sometimes it's best to let them sort out their differences without getting involved.
Don't ever lose faith in them or give up on them.
You'll always be amazed at what they can accomplish.
Even if it sometimes doesn't seem like it, they really do care for each other.
In the end, they'll be there for each other.
Children are very resourceful.
Set a good example and they'll follow your lead.

Baby "Crafts"

I like "crafty" things. It's a nice feeling to be able to make something and get the enjoyment of having done it all yourself. That's why I enjoyed finding this website - Jan Andrea: at home on the web. She has some really good information on creating baby carriers, nursing pillows, grocery cart seat covers, etc. I think creating my own items is a good cost-saving venture, especially when needing items for 3. I just don't know if I'll have any free time to actually make any of the items.

Doctor Update

I had another doctor visit yesterday. The heartrates for the babies were good. They were extremely happy with my progress. The doctor said "You know, you've made it past the biggest hurdles now. We just need to keep the babies in as long as possible now so they'll be as healthy as possible when they are born". It was nice to hear that. I can only say it's an answer to prayers. I go back next week for another ultrasound measurement. That's when they'll be checking on the one girl that had slowed slightly in her growth. I have to say at least one of them, if not all, are growing because I've gained 5 pounds in one week.

Tick Tock....

How much longer? I just keep wondering how much longer until the babies are born. It's amazing to see how much my belly has grown, but how much more can it grow? Now don't get me wrong, I want the babies to stay in as long as possible and to be as healthy as possible when they are born. I'm just not sure how much more my body can take. Breathing is getting to be a struggle. Taking a deep breath...forget it. It seems to take almost all my strength to get up from a sitting position. Once the babies are born I'll feel like a new person.

Father Friday - Part 2

The Future Life of a Father of Triplets???

from Dilbert.com

Father Friday - Baby Product Packaging

Has anyone else noticed that almost all baby products come packaged in something that is labeled "This is not a toy. Keep away from babies and children."? Be it a plastic bag, container, bottle, ...

It sure is a dangerous world.

Packing for Delivery

I've been packing the items needed for delivery of the babies. I've got a small case of items for me and I'm also working on items for the babies. I have a list of items I should take, but it's hard to know what size items I should pack for all of us. Will the babies need preemie outfits or just the regular newborn clothing? How much smaller will I be when the babies are delivered? I know I'll probably be wearing some form of maternity clothes home, but I'm not sure what to take - larger or smaller maternity wear. This will probably be like packing for most trips I take. I'll overpack and have much more than I need.

A slow triplet news day

I can't think of much to say today. I'm going at an even slower pace than before and seem to be taking a nap at every opportunity. Yesterday was a day full of activities and that seems to have made me more tired than I usually am. I'll need to nap even more today.

Doctor Update

It was back to the doctor yesterday afternoon. The babies and I were checked. The heartrates for all 3 were great. They attempted to guess the weight of the babies again based on the measurements they took. The boy is now around 3 pounds and 5 ounces. The first girl is between 2 and 3 pounds. The second girl has grown some, but not as much as the other two. She's just above 2 pounds. She's the one they want to keep a closer check on. In 2 weeks, they'll do another ultrasound and check measurements. If her growth is steadily continuing, the doctor said he wouldn't be too concerned about her. If her growth has slowed even more, they'll want to do more tests to see if they can determine the problem with her growth.

My big question yesterday was this - "How much longer am I going to go?". We discussed how the average birth time for triplets is around 32 weeks. Some people go to 34 or 35 weeks, but not usually. The doctor really wants me to go 32 weeks because studies have shown that babies born at that point are usually just as healthy as babies born at 37 weeks. So I guess I'll just keep on coasting along for at least 3 more weeks.

Official Energy Level - Zero

I guess it's the approach of the third trimester, but I officially no longer have any energy. It seemed to start at the end of last week and has only gotten worse over the weekend. I now get exhausted just sitting on the couch. That's enough for today. It's too tiring to type and try to hold a laptop on my nonexistent lap.

Father Friday - Batteries

Toys love batteries and lots of them.

A lot of the baby toys we have require batteries to light up or play music. And we're not talking 1 or 2 batteries, it's usually 3 or 4 for each item. There must be some collaboration between the toy makers and battery companies.

Would it be considered money laundering if I purchased stock in battery companies to fund future college educations and then purchased batteries for all the toys and in turn increased stock prices?

"You're about ready to have that baby, aren't you?"

That's a common question I seem to get everywhere I go now from people that don't know me. My belly has grown a lot and I look like someone that's about ready to deliver, but I'm not that close. Sometimes it's easier just to say yes to that question than to go into any details. When I want to have some fun though, I like to say "No, not really. I'm just at 28 weeks". After I watch their eyes and mouth open wide, I tell them that I'm expecting triplets. And as I walk away, I always seem to hear them mumble something like "Triplets?! I just can't imagine how that would be".

Results from doctor visit

Back to the doctor again yesterday. In my opinion, it wasn't the best visit ever. The doctor I usually see wasn't in the office, so I had to see a house officer. The doctor's office is at a teaching hospital, so it's possible to see a house officer or some other medical student during a regular visit, but I hadn't up to this point. She did a quick ultrasound to check for heartbeats, answered the questions I had and that was just about it. She didn't find any problems, but I was hoping to see my regular doctor. At least my visit next week is scheduled with him.

First Goal Completed - 28 Weeks

Today is the first goal in the pregnancy - 28 weeks. I'll be counting each week from this point on as a major milestone. The doctor really wants the babies to stay in until 32 weeks and longer if possible. I go back to the doctor today. I just hope and pray that things continue as well as they have up until this point.

Glucose Test Results

I talked to the doctor's office on Friday afternoon and they said everything looked normal for the latest glucose test. They did, however, forget to take blood samples four times. They took the last three but forgot to take a sample before I had the glucose solution. They seemed confident they could get that number based on the levels from the other three blood draws, plus they have the levels from the first time I took the simpler glucose test. All I know is that I don't want to have to take the test again.

"Father Friday"

We've decided that unless we have some big news to report, Fridays will now become "Father Friday" - a time to post some of the ideas and observations I've had about pregnancy. There is no big news to report today about the mother and babies. We're still waiting on the results from the latest glucose test.

Here's my first topic - Things I've discovered so far during the pregnancy.

• People are both shocked and interested by the idea of multiples and they can't seem to talk about them enough.
• Too many pieces of maternity clothing have to be ironed.
• Gift bags and tissue paper should not be made with glitter on it. It goes everywhere.
• I enjoy grocery shopping. It's like some type of challenge to get everything on the list and get out of the store as soon as possible.
• When you have babies on the way, everyone sends you something in the mail to try and get you to buy their product, subscribe to their magazine or buy their insurance.
• You can get 8 pillows and 2 people in a bed at the same time.
• God must be preparing you for sleepless nights with children during pregnancy because when the mother isn't sleeping, you probably aren't either.
• I could sit for hours with my hands on the mother's belly and enjoy feeling the babies move.
• I think it's just adorable every time I remove a piece of baby clothing from the dryer.
• It's okay to ask for help because you can't do everything yourself. Actually I seem to keep learning that over and over.
• You can sit in a classroom full of people and talk about breastfeeding without being embarrassed.
• Picking a doctor for your babies is a tough decision.
• There's nothing I wouldn't do for my wife and now my children.

Glucose Test Completed

I've completed the second glucose test. I have to wait on the results.

Not much to report today

No big items to post today. I feel like I'm on cruise control just coasting along and waiting for the babies. Based on the belly measurements we took last night, there wasn't a change from the last week. I can't say I'm too surprised. I don't see how the babies can grow more horizontally. I don't know if my skin can stretch more in that direction. They seem to be growing more vertically now. I've noticed that my belly seems to be getting larger at the bottom. Maybe they are growing longer instead of gaining body girth.

And the doctor said...

Another visit to the doctor yesterday. The babies are doing well. Their heartrates were 167 bpm (Baby A - the boy), 150 bpm (Baby B - the girl) and 167 bpm (Baby C - the other girl).

The comments about me weren't exactly the same. Because of the triplets, I'm anemic. That's common during pregnancy, but it's usually worse with multiples. I've been taking iron supplements, but now I have to increase the amount of iron each day.

I also found out I failed the glucose test from the last appointment. I now have to have a more extensive glucose test. That means I have to fast starting at midnight until the test is completed the next day. The appointment is at 8am on Thursday and the test will last for 3 hours. It starts with blood being drawn, drinking the glucose solution and then enduring blood being drawn at each hour interval until the 3 hour mark. I'll certainly be ready for lunch by the time I finish the test. This test will determine if I have gestational diabetes or not.

Here are the scans of the babies from this visit.


This is Baby A. If you look closely, you can see that his mouth is open.


This is Baby B.


This is Baby C. If you look closely, you can see a smile and part of her tongue showing in her mouth.

Or you might think all three images look like something Michael Keaton would have seen in "White Noise".

Virginian Woman's Unborn Triplets Go For $12,000 On eBay

No, that's not me. Story here.

No News Is Good News

Not much to report today. Everything seems about the same. I head back to the doctor this afternoon for a routine appointment. I made it through the weekend and had a nice mother's day. I even received a card from the babies and a gift from Amazon.com. They must be really smart to know how to sign a card and order a gift all from the womb. They must have a wireless internet connection in there that I don't know about.

Closing in on 28 weeks

Twenty-eight weeks is the first goal set by my doctor. I'm almost there. Just under two weeks to go. Once I reach that goal, the next one is 32 weeks. Overall I think things are going really well. Sure, I've had my share of pregnancy-related issues and maybe earlier than normal because of three babies, but still things seem to be going well. I, along with others, just keep praying that things will go well and God is certainly answering those prayers.

The Diaper Champ

We have 2 of the largest dirty diaper containers we could find - The Diaper Champ. We've set them up in the nursery and they are ready for work. This product is better than some of the alternatives because it uses regular trash bags instead of special bags made exclusively for the unit.

It looks like it will be fun to use. You just drop the diaper in the hole, flip the top and you're ready for the next diaper. It might be too much fun. Once the triplets are a bit older and can figure out how to use it, I can imagine us finding clothes, shoes and who knows what else they can drop in there.

We're just not convinced it's large enough for 3 babies. We were thinking someone should make a diaper disposal unit that's for multiple babies. Maybe something like the King Kong Diaper Disposer.

When you thought I wasn't looking

We all get the chain emails that are passed from person to person. Occasionally you get a really good one that you want to share. This email reminded me that those triplets will be looking at everything we do.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's alright to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, "Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking."

Ultrasound results

Yesterday was the ultrasound of my legs checking for blood clots. There was no evidence of any clots in my legs. I guess it's just a case of normal pregnancy swelling.

Update - 25 weeks 6 days

It was back to the doctor yesterday for another check of the babies. The babies are doing well. They all had normal heartrates (A - 167 bpm, B - 141 bpm, C - 163 bpm) and are growing a lot. Based on the measurements they took yesterday, the estimated baby weights are A - 1lb 15 oz, B - 1lb 13oz and C - 1lb 14 oz. Each one is almost 2 pounds so that's about 6 pounds of total baby. That puts each baby around the 50th percentile in size. The doctor seemed happy that they are growing that much.

While I was at the doctor I had to take glucose screening test to check for gestational diabetes. I have to wait to get the results from that test. I also have to go back to the hospital today for an ultrasound of my leg. They want to check the leg that was swelling to make sure there isn't a blood clot in there.

Here are the scans from yesterday.

Baby A


Baby B


Baby C