Hi, Hard to believe I posted yesterday about one friend to find out today about another friend. My other dear friend delivered her baby last weekend and finds herself in the NICU with her baby at Children's Hospital in Boston. Unsure what is wrong and unsure when they might come home. This baby has been lethargic and then started having seizures so they took him to their local hospital who transported him to Children's. It is heartbreaking. This friend spent the first month of her first child's life in the NICU for an infection. Now to have her second child in the NICU for a condition he was born with is unbearable. I am so sad for them and in disbelief that this could be happening a second time.
Reminded again about how very blessed we are and how bad things can happen to anyone at any time. Please hold this other child in your thoughts as well. I hope my next update is that these babies are home with their families where they should be...
Friday, July 17, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Sending prayers and positive energy
I am often reminded of how lucky we are. I think having gone through failed IVFs to finally have our little guys keeps me from ever forgetting what a blessing healthy children really are. I would like to ask that prayers be sent to a dear friend of mine, whose journey has been more difficult than anyone could imagine.
My friend suffered through IF longer than we did. Multiple surgeries, couple of failed IVFs, two late first term miscarriages and finally, finally pregnant with a little boy. As she approached week 36, she had "mother's intuition" that something did not feel right. She went to her OB who sent her immediately to L&D to deliver her baby via emergency c-section that moment. It seemed that something had gone awry with the blood flow in the umbilical cord and the little guy was slowly dying in utero. They rescued him and he went directly to the NICU. He was transferred to Boston Children's Hospital where they spent many weeks by his bedside hoping he would get stronger and better. Since his birth, he has been in and out of the pediatric unit at Mass General Hospital. [Both world class institutions, affiliated with Harvard and some of the best doctors around are found at these places, so I do believe they are in good hands.]
I'm not exactly sure of the condition that he is fighting, but I do know that he is a very sick little boy. My friend told me that there are only 20 documented cases similar to his condition EVER in the USA. There are a handful of MDs who have dealt with this before and there is no know protocol for how to treat him and help him get better. Their team is consulting with many doctors and are doing research to learn more. The little baby has also become a "person of interest" and many doctors come by to examine him to learn more about his case (not at all reassuring that your baby is outside of known normal case work). The baby has gained less than 2 lbs since birth and when he is not at the hospital, he goes to the hospital for daily blood draws to measure various levels in his body.
I visited him and his parents this week and it was heartbreaking. My friend broke down crying -- 12 weeks post partum. She is pumping and dumping because he is on special formula. She is doing the best she can as a mother who is powerless against her sick little boy's condition. She said "It was such a tough road to get him, I don't know why I assumed that it would be easy once he arrived?" This makes me so sad and mad. It is horrible that it took so many years to conceive him and it is even more heartbreaking that her hopes of a normal delivery and normal newborn experience has been robbed. I am very scared for the long-term prognosis for their little guy. In the meantime, they are taking each day as it comes in an already all too familiar world we have lived in -- day by day, one step in front of the other, waiting anxiously for the results of blood draws. This time, it's for their little boy and not her. But it is almost worse than IF because he is here and it is so unfair that they are suffering through this.
Please send prayers and positive energy their way. I know that the power of positive thinking and holding people in your hearts can help make someone better. Thank you.
My friend suffered through IF longer than we did. Multiple surgeries, couple of failed IVFs, two late first term miscarriages and finally, finally pregnant with a little boy. As she approached week 36, she had "mother's intuition" that something did not feel right. She went to her OB who sent her immediately to L&D to deliver her baby via emergency c-section that moment. It seemed that something had gone awry with the blood flow in the umbilical cord and the little guy was slowly dying in utero. They rescued him and he went directly to the NICU. He was transferred to Boston Children's Hospital where they spent many weeks by his bedside hoping he would get stronger and better. Since his birth, he has been in and out of the pediatric unit at Mass General Hospital. [Both world class institutions, affiliated with Harvard and some of the best doctors around are found at these places, so I do believe they are in good hands.]
I'm not exactly sure of the condition that he is fighting, but I do know that he is a very sick little boy. My friend told me that there are only 20 documented cases similar to his condition EVER in the USA. There are a handful of MDs who have dealt with this before and there is no know protocol for how to treat him and help him get better. Their team is consulting with many doctors and are doing research to learn more. The little baby has also become a "person of interest" and many doctors come by to examine him to learn more about his case (not at all reassuring that your baby is outside of known normal case work). The baby has gained less than 2 lbs since birth and when he is not at the hospital, he goes to the hospital for daily blood draws to measure various levels in his body.
I visited him and his parents this week and it was heartbreaking. My friend broke down crying -- 12 weeks post partum. She is pumping and dumping because he is on special formula. She is doing the best she can as a mother who is powerless against her sick little boy's condition. She said "It was such a tough road to get him, I don't know why I assumed that it would be easy once he arrived?" This makes me so sad and mad. It is horrible that it took so many years to conceive him and it is even more heartbreaking that her hopes of a normal delivery and normal newborn experience has been robbed. I am very scared for the long-term prognosis for their little guy. In the meantime, they are taking each day as it comes in an already all too familiar world we have lived in -- day by day, one step in front of the other, waiting anxiously for the results of blood draws. This time, it's for their little boy and not her. But it is almost worse than IF because he is here and it is so unfair that they are suffering through this.
Please send prayers and positive energy their way. I know that the power of positive thinking and holding people in your hearts can help make someone better. Thank you.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
June 2009
I'm unsure how people with triplets manage a blog too? I know I have been MIA for oh, almost a YEAR. But I check in on the folks I used to follow daily (and occasionally will even comment) and I check in on new blogs now too (many triplets and also friends who write).
Well, we're doing well. Great, in fact. We have been so utterly blessed with three healthy and thriving children. They have been hitting every milestone (or so it seems in my limited knowledge of what babies do when...) and they are just a joy to be around. We are having a blast!
My little guys are running - running - in every direction. They are starting to say a few words and it is amazing to watch their brains working. I love each new development stage and it keeps getting better and better. It is such a treat to be with them and I just love every second. They love to dance (as do my husband and I) and listen to music. It is just the cutest thing. We took music class (my guys were the entertainment -- they ran around and loved to beat the drums). I think this fall we may look into a gym or some active class since little boys need to let their energy out. I could not be more blessed in the children department!
I work two days/week and my mom watches the boys (which is a nice balance and I am lucky on many fronts), we have a fabulous new home and huge back yard, and we have even met some new friends in our new town. All is well.
My job is good, I love where I work. It has been a stressful year, because, well, have you read the paper AT ALL this year? We're not immune to the pressures of the real world, though sometimes the perception is that I work somewhere where nothing bad ever happens. Knock on wood that I continue to have a job. My husbands job too is going well, so knock on wood there. We know plenty of people who have been hit. Again, it seems we are lucky in the work department and I hope it continues. Loving your job is such an important thing.
The one main black spot this year has been my evil MIL. She continues to amaze and baffle me and she has provided alot of fodder for a book (and I am seriously contemplating writing down her antics because they are just so good. Half the time, I am in awe, because how she behaves towards me, the boys and my husband is just in a manner that you can not make up. Nor can you believe that it is for real). She and my husband's family continue to be a source of pain and stress. Someday, I hope we get to a place where it is neutral and we can just be. My friend pointed out that no matter what, everyone loves their mom and will not be able to see her objectively. But seriously, my MIL is INSANE. The air changes between my husband and me when we have to deal with her and it is a bummer that she causes so much friction.
On the other hand, my parents are the best grandparents a child could ask for! They are super involved and engaged and over almost every day to see the boys. I love it and the boys do too. My husband also (thankfully) recognizes how lucky we are to have my folks and their help. He is also appreciative (and this makes the contrast with is folks all the more apparent). Anyway, it has been so much fun to truly have family supporting and loving all of us each day. I can't thank my folks enough for all that they have done and continue to do. They inspire and amaze me.
In IF related things -- I would love another child. LOVE. We went back and saw our favorite RE and discussed options. We *could* do another IVF cycle where she would give me a LOW dose of stims and hope to get 6-8 eggs (not 16-20 as my previous cycles yielded). We would also only transfer one...since I know my body and my life could not handle another triplet pregnancy -- just too hard on your body. Twins, twins I would be delighted. Singleton- overjoyed. To start the process, we have to do all the testing again. I have called to schedule day three blood draws, but not shown up. I just can't do it. At the start of this journey, we had agreed upon three fresh IVF cycles and then we were going to move on. We had success on fresh cycle #3 with three healthy babies. We always wanted three-four to kids. So, in essence, I feel like we hit the jackpot. Seriously hit it! So, at this time, I just can not do it. If we had any frozen embies, we would be back there. We don't. Maybe my mind will change, as I get closer to age 35...but for now, I think I have retired my needles, blood draws, and time with IVF.
But I would LOVE another child. So we try (perhaps in vain) each month. I am still obsessed with my cycle and I pretty much know exactly when I am ovulating. We seem to continue to miss the ever-elusive "getting pregnant thing" (I still have doubts about whether or not my husband's sperm is strong enough to do the job unassisted). We have discussed adoption and we may consider it in the future. But for now, we are content and happy. We have three happy kids. I just continue to thank my lucky stars and the Universe for our blessings. I really could not ask for anything more and even feel guilty and nervous about wanting a fourth.
Having triplets means that people think they can say/ask you almost anything. I wish I had thicker skin and could blow off the really impolite and invasive questions...but I can't. Instead, I feel like it is my job to be an advocate for IF and people suffering through. I have become a "go to" with friends who have sisters and friends struggling and doing IVF. I feel like it is important that I help educate people on what the process is like. Though, I would NEVER EVER EVER wish IF on anyone. No one. Such a sucky process. Though I am grateful IVF exists.
I'm not going to lie -- I am still totally jealous every time I hear a pregnancy announcement. Every time, my gut just aches. I am so jealous of friends who just "fall" pregnant. I am sometimes angry at how careless and not grateful they behave. In my heart of hearts, I believe that we are better parents - the ones who worked really hard to have children -- than people who did not work as hard. I see it.
I rarely (if ever) complain about parenting tasks. I had some idea about what being a parent would entail and all of it, I savor. I clearly remember sitting on that ledge wondering if I would EVER get to experience pregnancy OR being a parent. It is a gift to be a parent and I am honored that my little guys and their souls chose us. I never take that for granted and I do my best to live in the moment.
Which is why I have been MIA. I think my last post (a year ago?) stated that I might be signing off for a while. I meant it. Time is so precious! I wish I could be a better blogger because I am so glad to have chronicled my pregnancy and early weeks with the babies. I wish I had kept a better journal of what the babies did when and all that good stuff...but alas, I just have not had the time.
I hope everyone is well. I think of my friends in cyber space and hope that your dreams are all coming true.
Well, we're doing well. Great, in fact. We have been so utterly blessed with three healthy and thriving children. They have been hitting every milestone (or so it seems in my limited knowledge of what babies do when...) and they are just a joy to be around. We are having a blast!
My little guys are running - running - in every direction. They are starting to say a few words and it is amazing to watch their brains working. I love each new development stage and it keeps getting better and better. It is such a treat to be with them and I just love every second. They love to dance (as do my husband and I) and listen to music. It is just the cutest thing. We took music class (my guys were the entertainment -- they ran around and loved to beat the drums). I think this fall we may look into a gym or some active class since little boys need to let their energy out. I could not be more blessed in the children department!
I work two days/week and my mom watches the boys (which is a nice balance and I am lucky on many fronts), we have a fabulous new home and huge back yard, and we have even met some new friends in our new town. All is well.
My job is good, I love where I work. It has been a stressful year, because, well, have you read the paper AT ALL this year? We're not immune to the pressures of the real world, though sometimes the perception is that I work somewhere where nothing bad ever happens. Knock on wood that I continue to have a job. My husbands job too is going well, so knock on wood there. We know plenty of people who have been hit. Again, it seems we are lucky in the work department and I hope it continues. Loving your job is such an important thing.
The one main black spot this year has been my evil MIL. She continues to amaze and baffle me and she has provided alot of fodder for a book (and I am seriously contemplating writing down her antics because they are just so good. Half the time, I am in awe, because how she behaves towards me, the boys and my husband is just in a manner that you can not make up. Nor can you believe that it is for real). She and my husband's family continue to be a source of pain and stress. Someday, I hope we get to a place where it is neutral and we can just be. My friend pointed out that no matter what, everyone loves their mom and will not be able to see her objectively. But seriously, my MIL is INSANE. The air changes between my husband and me when we have to deal with her and it is a bummer that she causes so much friction.
On the other hand, my parents are the best grandparents a child could ask for! They are super involved and engaged and over almost every day to see the boys. I love it and the boys do too. My husband also (thankfully) recognizes how lucky we are to have my folks and their help. He is also appreciative (and this makes the contrast with is folks all the more apparent). Anyway, it has been so much fun to truly have family supporting and loving all of us each day. I can't thank my folks enough for all that they have done and continue to do. They inspire and amaze me.
In IF related things -- I would love another child. LOVE. We went back and saw our favorite RE and discussed options. We *could* do another IVF cycle where she would give me a LOW dose of stims and hope to get 6-8 eggs (not 16-20 as my previous cycles yielded). We would also only transfer one...since I know my body and my life could not handle another triplet pregnancy -- just too hard on your body. Twins, twins I would be delighted. Singleton- overjoyed. To start the process, we have to do all the testing again. I have called to schedule day three blood draws, but not shown up. I just can't do it. At the start of this journey, we had agreed upon three fresh IVF cycles and then we were going to move on. We had success on fresh cycle #3 with three healthy babies. We always wanted three-four to kids. So, in essence, I feel like we hit the jackpot. Seriously hit it! So, at this time, I just can not do it. If we had any frozen embies, we would be back there. We don't. Maybe my mind will change, as I get closer to age 35...but for now, I think I have retired my needles, blood draws, and time with IVF.
But I would LOVE another child. So we try (perhaps in vain) each month. I am still obsessed with my cycle and I pretty much know exactly when I am ovulating. We seem to continue to miss the ever-elusive "getting pregnant thing" (I still have doubts about whether or not my husband's sperm is strong enough to do the job unassisted). We have discussed adoption and we may consider it in the future. But for now, we are content and happy. We have three happy kids. I just continue to thank my lucky stars and the Universe for our blessings. I really could not ask for anything more and even feel guilty and nervous about wanting a fourth.
Having triplets means that people think they can say/ask you almost anything. I wish I had thicker skin and could blow off the really impolite and invasive questions...but I can't. Instead, I feel like it is my job to be an advocate for IF and people suffering through. I have become a "go to" with friends who have sisters and friends struggling and doing IVF. I feel like it is important that I help educate people on what the process is like. Though, I would NEVER EVER EVER wish IF on anyone. No one. Such a sucky process. Though I am grateful IVF exists.
I'm not going to lie -- I am still totally jealous every time I hear a pregnancy announcement. Every time, my gut just aches. I am so jealous of friends who just "fall" pregnant. I am sometimes angry at how careless and not grateful they behave. In my heart of hearts, I believe that we are better parents - the ones who worked really hard to have children -- than people who did not work as hard. I see it.
I rarely (if ever) complain about parenting tasks. I had some idea about what being a parent would entail and all of it, I savor. I clearly remember sitting on that ledge wondering if I would EVER get to experience pregnancy OR being a parent. It is a gift to be a parent and I am honored that my little guys and their souls chose us. I never take that for granted and I do my best to live in the moment.
Which is why I have been MIA. I think my last post (a year ago?) stated that I might be signing off for a while. I meant it. Time is so precious! I wish I could be a better blogger because I am so glad to have chronicled my pregnancy and early weeks with the babies. I wish I had kept a better journal of what the babies did when and all that good stuff...but alas, I just have not had the time.
I hope everyone is well. I think of my friends in cyber space and hope that your dreams are all coming true.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
One year ago...
My husband and I were in France. Three embryos had been transferred and we were trying our best to enjoy our vacation and not worry about what the beta would bring upon our return. I never in my wildest dreams would have imagined that today, I would be the mom of three beautiful, healthy baby boys! They are a miracle. ART and IVF is a miracle and I am still in awe that it worked. I thank my stars every day for these three little guys. My heart has never felt so full and I have never been this happy ever in my whole life. I love them and each day brings more smiles than the day before (for them and me!). I feel like we have been blessed in so many ways and I am so grateful to the Universe.
All is well with the boys and us. The boys are growing like crazy and are on the charts for their true age (not their adjusted 5 week early age, since they were born at 35 weeks). Baby A and Baby B are 25% for height and weight and Baby C (who was smallest at birth) is 50% for weight and 5% for height. He is a little chunk and loves to eat! Our pedi said the best indication for overall health is weight gain and these guys are definitely gaining weight. They smile and coo and love their johnny jump-ups and jumperoos. They roll (sometimes) and love to shove their fists into their mouths. They are so much fun and we are having a blast!
It is hard to imagine that one year ago these guys were only a dream. Truly, I never would have imagined that the three that were put back would be here today with me. I think I am one of the luckiest people on the planet, if not the luckiest. Miracles do happen.
All is well with the boys and us. The boys are growing like crazy and are on the charts for their true age (not their adjusted 5 week early age, since they were born at 35 weeks). Baby A and Baby B are 25% for height and weight and Baby C (who was smallest at birth) is 50% for weight and 5% for height. He is a little chunk and loves to eat! Our pedi said the best indication for overall health is weight gain and these guys are definitely gaining weight. They smile and coo and love their johnny jump-ups and jumperoos. They roll (sometimes) and love to shove their fists into their mouths. They are so much fun and we are having a blast!
It is hard to imagine that one year ago these guys were only a dream. Truly, I never would have imagined that the three that were put back would be here today with me. I think I am one of the luckiest people on the planet, if not the luckiest. Miracles do happen.
Friday, April 25, 2008
10 1/2 weeks -- where does the time go?
Where has the time gone? Like Sticky Bun, I compose these fabulous posts while in the shower and then I do not ever seem to have time to update this blog. Nor do I have time to upload or send photos to family/friends of the boys. And I have really only left the house in a car a handful of times in the last 10 weeks (pedi/OB/homeopath/lunch with friends).
I have a few minutes and just wanted to say all is well with me and the boys. It is non-stop and busy. BUT I can't get enough of these little ones. I would love to hold each of them all day long every day. They are developing little personalities and are starting to smile.
Has it been a huge adjustment going from a family of 2 people, 1 cat to 5 people, 1 cat? YES. Is it a lot of work? Yes (but worth it). Are there lots of stories I would like to share about becoming a mom? Yes. Does my heart still hurt when friends tell me they are pregnant (whoops, how did that happen friends...)? Yes. Do I wish success for people in the blogosphere and my friends who are in the midst of cycling? Yes, each and every day. Will I continue to blog? Unsure right now. I guess I will when I can. I try to read updates...but it does not always happen.
I feel so blessed and lucky to have my three boys. I thank the Universe every day. I hope folks are well. And, maybe, someday, I will have a little more time for reflection about our journey to get to this place. I am in awe that modern science assisted us in the creation of our three little guys...I often think I am just dreaming. I am so grateful.
I have a few minutes and just wanted to say all is well with me and the boys. It is non-stop and busy. BUT I can't get enough of these little ones. I would love to hold each of them all day long every day. They are developing little personalities and are starting to smile.
Has it been a huge adjustment going from a family of 2 people, 1 cat to 5 people, 1 cat? YES. Is it a lot of work? Yes (but worth it). Are there lots of stories I would like to share about becoming a mom? Yes. Does my heart still hurt when friends tell me they are pregnant (whoops, how did that happen friends...)? Yes. Do I wish success for people in the blogosphere and my friends who are in the midst of cycling? Yes, each and every day. Will I continue to blog? Unsure right now. I guess I will when I can. I try to read updates...but it does not always happen.
I feel so blessed and lucky to have my three boys. I thank the Universe every day. I hope folks are well. And, maybe, someday, I will have a little more time for reflection about our journey to get to this place. I am in awe that modern science assisted us in the creation of our three little guys...I often think I am just dreaming. I am so grateful.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Almost three weeks old!
What a whirl wind it is having three babies at once! I am loving every second of it so far. The babies are all well and are growing well. One is over 6lbs, one is 6 1/ lbs and one is almost 7 lbs. Woo-hoo! They are very cute and are developing little personalities already.
A few things I have noted these past few weeks:
Take a shower every day. It really does make a difference. It is a few minutes of "me" time and regardless of whether I take it in the morning or before I go to bed -- it feels great and is worth it.
Depends -- so in the hospital, they give you mesh undies and giant pads. I have a huge incision and wanted something gentle against it (and my undies hit the incision line plus I hate huge pads). Welcome depends. No joke. I asked my mom to buy me some and they have been fab. I am so ready to be finished with this bleeding nonsense, but I know it means my uterus is working hard at getting back to normal.
Pacifiers -- love them. Mine all take them and it buys me time between feedings. I'm not a huge fan of toddlers running around with paci's in their mouths, but for the little ones...they are so worth it! Really, I have never really liked them until now.
Sleep. I wish I could sleep when the babies do. But we're adults and I am not a good napper. People who can sleep when the babies do are so lucky.
Help -- take all the help you can get. Have people bring dinners. Go out for a few hours and have a family member sit for you. It is great to have trusted help. We even have a night nanny now and it is helpful! I got out on Saturday to go baby clothes shopping and it was such a treat!
Cry when you want to. My post partum tears have all been for joy. I am in shock and amazement that we have three healthy babies. A year ago, I was suffering through some of my darkest days of my life. The last few weeks I have cried out of sheer joy. We are so lucky and blessed and I am in complete awe.
Going through IF changes you forever. Since I have been home I have learned that a few of my friends are expecting. None of them had any problems getting pregnant. One even called and told me she was disappointed it happened so quickly. I am not the person to lament to about pregnancy. It is a miracle. I will forever have pangs of jealousy mixed with happiness for my friends who get pregnant so easily. I laughed when the DR asked what type of birth control I wanted to go on. I will take the risk -- it would be a miracle to get pregnant on our own.
I am so appreciative that I was able to get pregnant and have three healthy babies. I am so grateful for this blessing. It is truly a miracle.
A few things I have noted these past few weeks:
Take a shower every day. It really does make a difference. It is a few minutes of "me" time and regardless of whether I take it in the morning or before I go to bed -- it feels great and is worth it.
Depends -- so in the hospital, they give you mesh undies and giant pads. I have a huge incision and wanted something gentle against it (and my undies hit the incision line plus I hate huge pads). Welcome depends. No joke. I asked my mom to buy me some and they have been fab. I am so ready to be finished with this bleeding nonsense, but I know it means my uterus is working hard at getting back to normal.
Pacifiers -- love them. Mine all take them and it buys me time between feedings. I'm not a huge fan of toddlers running around with paci's in their mouths, but for the little ones...they are so worth it! Really, I have never really liked them until now.
Sleep. I wish I could sleep when the babies do. But we're adults and I am not a good napper. People who can sleep when the babies do are so lucky.
Help -- take all the help you can get. Have people bring dinners. Go out for a few hours and have a family member sit for you. It is great to have trusted help. We even have a night nanny now and it is helpful! I got out on Saturday to go baby clothes shopping and it was such a treat!
Cry when you want to. My post partum tears have all been for joy. I am in shock and amazement that we have three healthy babies. A year ago, I was suffering through some of my darkest days of my life. The last few weeks I have cried out of sheer joy. We are so lucky and blessed and I am in complete awe.
Going through IF changes you forever. Since I have been home I have learned that a few of my friends are expecting. None of them had any problems getting pregnant. One even called and told me she was disappointed it happened so quickly. I am not the person to lament to about pregnancy. It is a miracle. I will forever have pangs of jealousy mixed with happiness for my friends who get pregnant so easily. I laughed when the DR asked what type of birth control I wanted to go on. I will take the risk -- it would be a miracle to get pregnant on our own.
I am so appreciative that I was able to get pregnant and have three healthy babies. I am so grateful for this blessing. It is truly a miracle.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
2 weeks old
Where to begin?! The boys are thriving and so cute! We saw the pedi at one week and again today. They have all gained a half pound or more each in the last week -- we're very happy that they are getting bigger! At two months they will get a bunch of shots. We're hoping we will not have to see the pedi until that visit (although she said we are still in the midst of flu season...yikes!).
We are trying to get more on a "schedule" but with three it is harder than it seems (and the poor guys are still preemies so we need to cut them some slack!). The schedule is more for our sanity than theirs. We're hiring a night nanny to assist with the night time feedings. With three small infants, each feed requires two adults (if not three if we have the manpower around). They are very slow eaters and take their time, plus we also like to cuddle with them and make sure they all get some one-on-one time. Needless to say with two people, it still takes an hour to an hour and a half to change, feed and burp each baby. The night nanny will relieve one us at each night time feeding. It's a bit of a splurge, but we think well worth it!!
The babies are all really good. They seem to cry when wet or hungry and not a whole lot in between (well, sometimes...). They are also very cute and seem to be developing little personalities. We swear they understand us and smile at opportune times to crack us up.
We spend the day in my bedroom...the same place where I spent the end of my pregnancy. Thankfully, it is a large room and is very sunny. I spend my days up here too (still recovering from the surgery...which is MAJOR surgery, even though people downplay it since c-sections seem very routine...but they are MAJOR!! My surgery included a long exterior incision running horizontally and the internal incisions are vertical (easier to get multiple babies out, per my OB). Not to mention that my surgery was stopped mid-way through since I was in so much pain...did I mention that the spinal did not work and I felt EVERYTHING?! I did not know what to expect and needless to say, I was in excruciating pain and they almost put me all the way under with general anesthesia. Thankfully, the babies were out of me when they halted the surgery to find the right drug cocktail to numb my body to stitch me up. Ugh. It was horrible.). I hang out all day and head downstairs only for meals. I sleep in the room with the babies unless I have a night shift "off" in which case I catch some zzz's in another bedroom.
My mom is a superstar and continues to take care of me AND the babies. She does their laundry, prepares their bottles and makes sure we're well-stocked for all baby items (she is even their personal shopper buying us cute outfits to grow into!). She cooks us (grown-ups) dinner, does my wash, cleans the house AND still has time to bake cookies! I have no idea where her energy comes from. We are so lucky and we're very indebted to her. I am anxious to be 100% so that I can contribute more and hopefully take over many of the daily chores my mom has been performing. In the meantime, I am so grateful she is allowing me time to recover and the boys are thankful that one grown-up around here knows what she's doing.
It's great the babies are now 2 weeks old/37 weeks gestation! With their healthy appetites and full cheeks, we often forget that they are still pre-term babies. This means we need to be extra vigilant about germs and protecting them from getting sick anytime soon. Our families have been very understanding about our guest policy (almost no one is allowed to visit) and the policy *if* someone does stop by (they get to wear a mask). In a few more weeks, flu season should be over AND the babies will be 40 weeks+, full-term! Our pedi advised that all care givers get a flu shot. My poor dad got sick from the shot and has been quarantined downstairs and in a guest bedroom until he gets better (which we hope is soon since selfishly, I want him back in the morning feeding rotation!).
The troops are rallying. More updates when I am able!
We are trying to get more on a "schedule" but with three it is harder than it seems (and the poor guys are still preemies so we need to cut them some slack!). The schedule is more for our sanity than theirs. We're hiring a night nanny to assist with the night time feedings. With three small infants, each feed requires two adults (if not three if we have the manpower around). They are very slow eaters and take their time, plus we also like to cuddle with them and make sure they all get some one-on-one time. Needless to say with two people, it still takes an hour to an hour and a half to change, feed and burp each baby. The night nanny will relieve one us at each night time feeding. It's a bit of a splurge, but we think well worth it!!
The babies are all really good. They seem to cry when wet or hungry and not a whole lot in between (well, sometimes...). They are also very cute and seem to be developing little personalities. We swear they understand us and smile at opportune times to crack us up.
We spend the day in my bedroom...the same place where I spent the end of my pregnancy. Thankfully, it is a large room and is very sunny. I spend my days up here too (still recovering from the surgery...which is MAJOR surgery, even though people downplay it since c-sections seem very routine...but they are MAJOR!! My surgery included a long exterior incision running horizontally and the internal incisions are vertical (easier to get multiple babies out, per my OB). Not to mention that my surgery was stopped mid-way through since I was in so much pain...did I mention that the spinal did not work and I felt EVERYTHING?! I did not know what to expect and needless to say, I was in excruciating pain and they almost put me all the way under with general anesthesia. Thankfully, the babies were out of me when they halted the surgery to find the right drug cocktail to numb my body to stitch me up. Ugh. It was horrible.). I hang out all day and head downstairs only for meals. I sleep in the room with the babies unless I have a night shift "off" in which case I catch some zzz's in another bedroom.
My mom is a superstar and continues to take care of me AND the babies. She does their laundry, prepares their bottles and makes sure we're well-stocked for all baby items (she is even their personal shopper buying us cute outfits to grow into!). She cooks us (grown-ups) dinner, does my wash, cleans the house AND still has time to bake cookies! I have no idea where her energy comes from. We are so lucky and we're very indebted to her. I am anxious to be 100% so that I can contribute more and hopefully take over many of the daily chores my mom has been performing. In the meantime, I am so grateful she is allowing me time to recover and the boys are thankful that one grown-up around here knows what she's doing.
It's great the babies are now 2 weeks old/37 weeks gestation! With their healthy appetites and full cheeks, we often forget that they are still pre-term babies. This means we need to be extra vigilant about germs and protecting them from getting sick anytime soon. Our families have been very understanding about our guest policy (almost no one is allowed to visit) and the policy *if* someone does stop by (they get to wear a mask). In a few more weeks, flu season should be over AND the babies will be 40 weeks+, full-term! Our pedi advised that all care givers get a flu shot. My poor dad got sick from the shot and has been quarantined downstairs and in a guest bedroom until he gets better (which we hope is soon since selfishly, I want him back in the morning feeding rotation!).
The troops are rallying. More updates when I am able!
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