What a week!

Yep, that's right two of them are now holding their own bottles!! YEAH!!!! This was a big step for them and I am super excited about it. Logan is just very happy to let the prop to its part for now, but I expect him to follow shortly. I know that I had said I'd post Tuesday, but after the big trip I was exhausted and needed a day to recoup. Then I got sick. I have had a head cold the past few days, but am finally on the mend. The trip was great! The older kids loved it and the young ones did great too!!
We left on Fri night at the triplets normal bedtime - around 7:15pm. The older kids watched a movie and the triplets fell asleep very quickly. We were able to drive pretty much straight thru and only had two tiny stops. We got to my sister's about 12:45 am. The triplets woke up, but Will and Jess went right back to sleep with no problems. I ended up sleeping with Logan on my chest while I rocked him in the recliner. He and I both fell asleep for a few hours. However, by Sat morning we were back on schedule and they did great. Jess was just so excited to see her cousin Kayla. Kayla is 2 1/2 and was a big help entertaining the babies. She wanted to hold them and play with them. I kept them on the regular schedule all day Saturday and they were really great with meeting the people at the barbecue. My cousins Sandy and Paul stopped by to see everyone and to take the older kids for ice cream. Sandy brought several outfits for each baby that are perfect for summer I am excited for the warmer weather to get here!

Sunday was Hershey. We decided that everyone would go to Chocolate World and then the big kids would go with Dave and Jim to do the rest of the park. It was a fun time.




Things were very interesting when we first got there. We took two cars to accommodate everyone and while we were waiting for everybody and whole group of Asian people surrounded us and started to take pics!!! I was a nervous wreck. Most of them were not even speaking English!! At one point a woman cam and stood next to me - I thought she had questions- but NO it was just to get a good pic of her with me and the triplets!!! I was furious! I told Dave that we needed to move inside ASAP and that one of us would wait here for the rest. I am really not comfortable taking the triplets out and it is for that exact reason! I was expecting a little attention, but it was too much and we were not even inside yet! We took the babies in their car seats thru the ride on how chocolate is made- it was fun to watch them looking all around. After two times on that ride, My sister, cousin Michele and I took the triplets and Kayla home. The afternoon went by very uneventfully, but that night my sister made a trip to the ER for some pain in her abdomen - turns out she had to have her gall bladder removed this week! Thankfully everything went well and she is starting to feel better.
We left Monday morning around the first nap of the day 9:00. We stopped at my moms and feed bottles and them stopped to see my grandma. She turned 95 in Jan and has been slipping health wise. I was very glad she got to see Lucas and the triplets. It made for a very , very very long ride home, but I think that it was worth it.

We got several new toys from Aunt K and I'll close this post with a few pics of the kids enjoying them.

Quick Updates and Mini Vacation

Well, it has been a great week here. Will has almost got sitting byself all figured out! Logan and Jess don't seem to far behind either. They are all doing great and really starting to move around on the floor - no crawling yet -but I know that it won't be far off. Logan is rolling everywhere! Their schedule is going well and the 4 bottles and 3 meals are really exciting for them and soon we can add protein (a.k.a. meat) to their diet! I am really looking forward to this as I think that the cereal is becoming a little boring to them. We have added their first finger food- gerber food puffs! They love them. However, they don't have that whole pick it up put in mouth thing yet, so we have to help them. I love the smiles I get when I sign for "more" and they get so excited! We have started several signs for them to start learning. I really think it is going well. We are using "eat" "drink" "more" and "all done" for now with the hope to add many more soon. I saw how well this baby sign worked for my sister and my neice. I hope that the trio does as well!
Speaking of my sis, we are in the process of packing for a long weekend trip to see her!! I can't wait to go and hang out. she is having a barbeque tomorrow and then on Sunday Dave and my BIL Jim will take Vani and Lucas to Hershey Park for the day. K and I plan on taking the little ones to Chocolate World with them and then heading back home. It should be a great little mini vacation and I am very excited.
The only trouble is I HATE PACKING !! We have to bring soo much stuff for the trio. Even this short three day trip feels like we are leaving for a week with all the stuff!! Oh well. I better stop procrastinating, sign off and really get packing ! I will try to post pics and updates on Tues after we get back. Happy Memorial Day to All!!

MNI, Trip to Zoo, and BRU

It has been a great weekend here. Friday night was my Mom Night In. Two great ladies from the local triplet club in nearby Rhode Island that I joined came over and brought dinner! They got here just as we were getting the trio to bed so they got to spend a few minutes with them and then we ate dinner, It was a really great time. The ladies have triplets who are just a little a head of mine so it was nice to hear how they manage day to day and I learned a few new tricks. (thanks ladies!)
Saturday was another first for the trio. It was their first trip to a zoo! The zoo in Rhode Island was having a military appreciation day so we packed up the whole gang after breakfast and headed out. The weather was absolutely beautiful, not too hot nor too cold. The zoo is pretty big and had lots to see. They are working on a few expansion projects so I think in August we may go back to see the new additions! Not sure how much they were able to really see, but the kids did really enjoy being outside and I know that they at least saw the giraffes, elephants and camels. Dave was of course enjoying the attention that we were getting by people as they walked by and saw the triple decker. He pushed the stroller almost the whole time! I am still really not used to the extra attention. It makes me uncomfortable, but Dave and Lucas are enjoying it for now. I was more nervous about people getting too close to the kids, but luckily no one tried to touch them or get right in their face. Will hates it when that happens! He almost always starts to cry. Anyway, it was a great time and after a quick stop for lunch - there was more to see. I think it took us about 3 hours to walk the whole park and see everything. It was just starting to get hot as we were leaving. On the way home we stopped by the Warwick Babies R Us. We will be needing very soon : 2-3 new cribs and mattresses, 3 new portable booster seats for on the go eating, and the biggest concern - 3 new car seats and a new stroller!! I am currently trying to figure out the best place to purchase and doing alot of reasearch on all the differnt types of cribs and car seats. It is really mind boggling! We are buying a used RA (runabout stroller for you non triplet families) in Sept from a local triplet mom. I am very excited about it and am already pricing accessories for it - sun shade, seat and headrest covers etc. We will be adding a hitch to the van and buying a cover for traveling. The car seats are the biggest pain. The van has a small third row so only two seats will fit, even with the narrow Radians, but I think that those may be our best choice. They go up to 80lbs, but are about $250 a piece! I am also pricing Britax Marathons but they are also very expensive. I would really like convertable car seats since I really don't want to spend the extra $ later for boosters if I don't have to. I figure a small investment now will work out better in the long run. Right? Any ideas from you other triplet moms or anybody else for that matter? I could really use some opinions!

Latest pics - 6 month photos

Will - what a great smile!!



Logan- love that smile!!



Jessica - best smile yet!!

Happy Belated Mother's Day !!

I hope that all the great moms who read this blog had a great day yesterday! I know that I had a very nice one myself. I got to take a late morning nap after Dave made me breakfast and we fed the trio. After the trio's afternoon nap we went out for an early dinner. We took the whole clan to Abbott's Lobster in the Rough! It was awesome. Everybody of course commented "you have your hands full" and "happy mother's day" and "boy are you busy" were the top three comments of the day. LOL Anyway, the restaurant is right on the water and it was a little windy, so we sat inside the covered area. The food was great as usual. Dave, Vani and I had lobsters and steamers and Lucas had extra steamers. Money is tight, but it was fun to splurge a little! After dinner Vani treated everyone to ice cream from our favorite place - Cold Stone Creamery. They have the best ice cream around. I love their Cookie Doughn't You Want Some. It is french vanilla ice cream with bits of cookie dough, choc. chips, caramel syrup and choc. syrup. Delicious!

My gift this year was ---

They are in birth order: Lucas, Will, Logan & Jess




We have a foot cast of Lucas at 6 months so I wanted a complete set! They came out perfect and we are going to do their hands next weekend. I'll post those too! It is fun to see the size difference of all four of them. Remember that Lucas weighed 8 lbs 9 oz at birth.

We also gave them their first Italian meal over the weekend. I found an Italian Vegetable Medley. Do you think they liked it ?






They absolutely LOVED it!! They ate 2 jars for dinner plus a little cereal and dessert. It was definitely a bath night !!!

Way to go Daddy !!!!!

Dave receiving his second Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal!!!

Today was a great day. The triplets and I actually got out of the house. We got to see Dave receive an award at work. I have not stopped by the office in quite some time and the ladies were ready to hold babies when I got there. It is so cool that his command lets the triplets make an appearance. (thanks everyone!) I can't believe that he has been at this command a year already. We are still waiting to hear what his final shore duty will be, he would love to stay right where he is! Anyway, after a short little ceremony at 1100, Dave was also given the rest of the day off! We fed the triplets at the office and then went out to lunch ourselves. The kids were great and well behaved and even fell asleep for most of the time we were out. (thank you scheduled nap times!!)
It is so great that Dave was recognized for this award. He has really enjoyed working at the Legal Office and comes home from work in a good mood. There were times on submarine commands that he would come home and just be miserable. I like the happier Dave! I am so proud of him. We have had a very stressful year. I was not exactly the worlds greatest pregnant woman and he was so great to me through out everything! I really don't think I would have been able to handle it on my own. He was my rock whenever I got too emotional or hormonal. As a matter of fact - he still is !! He always come home and asks what he can do to help me and give me a break. I feel awful about that because I know that he too needs a little break after work, but I am usually worn out by then and need the help. I love that we have the trio in bed by 7:15, that really gives us time to reconnect and hang out.

I can't believe that it has been a week since I lasted posted! Sorry - I will try to post every few days, but this week just seems to be very unexciting so there is not much to write about.
We have added breakfast to the schedule! They are now getting 4 bottles and 3 meals a day. I seem to be in an endless pattern of either getting bottles or food organized, prepared, fed to the trio, and cleaned up. I am trying to get them to go back to back with the feedings, but so far its a no go. I have to have at least 30-45minutes in between or they won't take the bottle after lunch. Dinner is not a problem since they have an hour and half to get hungry before the bedtime bottle. Today lunch was great, but bottle time was rough. They seemed ready to have a drink, but I had to really work to get them to finish bottles.
The other exciting news is: William is finally joining his brother and sister and sleeping thru the night consistently!!! We have been weaning him off his last early am bottle for the past 3 weeks and it is finally paying off!! Everyone now gets up pretty happy sometime between 6:30 - 7:00 ! They stay in the cribs until 7 most days. It is wonderful!

Not too much else is going on. It has been pretty routine.
Thougt I would end with pics of the kids after a feeding! Not sure where Jess' pic is - I'll add it in later but for now Enjoy!!!

Finally- the 6 Month Update

OK, so I lied. You had to wait two days for the updates, but I think it will be worth it!



First a few interesting numbers:

In the first six months the trio have had:

3,283 bottles (last month alone 1490 oz formula)

3,210 diaper changes

126 jars of baby food (that's only the last 2 months)

7 boxes of cereal (in 2 months also)

We have snapped several thousand snaps and several hundred zippers on outfits!

The kids have grown lots and are down from 8 bottles a day to only 4.

They eat a lunch and dinner and we got the go ahead to add breakfast.

WHEW !!! I almost don't believe those numbers myself. but since I am so crazy about writing everything down I got the numbers straight from my organizer !!


WILLIAM

Born - 4 lbs 10 oz 17 inches
6 Months- 13 lbs (1% on growth chart)
25 inches (10%-15% on growth chart)

Birth


3 Months

6 Months












William is a great baby. He is very easy-going. He was the first to start rolling and loves it when daddy tickles his belly. He has a great laugh and a big smile whenever he sees us. He always has those big baby blue eyes wide open and taking in everything. He is enjoying eating, but gets the messiest. Does not want to hold his bottle, prefers to have a prop and usually puts one hand over his eyes to relax and drink. He is the only one that still gets up early(somewhere between 430-530), but we no longer give him a bottle and he usually goes back to sleep without waking Logan or Jess. He is wearing 3-6 month outfits just barely. We are very grateful that he is just as he is.


LOGAN

Born - 4 lbs 12oz 18 inches
6 Months - 13 lbs 9 oz (1% on growth chart)
26 inches (20% on growth chart)


Birth



3 Months

6 Months












Logan is also a great baby. He has had the roughest start, especially considering he was the biggest. He was on the ventilator for a day when he was born and had breathing issues for the first three days or so. He is also struggling with pretty bad reflux. He would scream and cry so much at first, I felt awful for him. Now, he is on medication and while he still spits up lots, it no longer bothers him like it did. He is a pretty happy baby. He has a smile to warm your heart and baby blues eyes that just seem to be always trying to figure stuff out. His laugh is awesome and he is starting to "talk back" to me ! When I say "I love you", he sometimes says it back! I have it on video. I'll try to post it sometime. It is really too cute. He was next in the rolling over department and has figured out the back to belly roll too! He is the best eater and hardly ever makes a mess. He is teething and will probably be #1 or 2 in getting teeth. He is wearing 3-6 month outfits just barely also. He is just a joy.


JESSICA

Born - 3lbs 10 oz 17 inches
6 Month - 11lbs 6 oz (<1% on growth chart)
23 inches(<1% on growth chart)
Birth



3 Months


6 Months







Jessica has two nicknames "small but mighty" and "diva" She is a total daddy's girl. She wants what she wants when she wants it! She also has a great big smile and always wakes up happy. Her baby blue eyes melt her daddy's heart. She is the talker and has really started to become very vocal. She was the last to figure out how to roll, but is probably going to be the first to have any teeth. The doc said hers are very close to poking through both on top and bottom. She is chewing on everything, but usually one of her thumbs is always in her mouth. She had the easiest time in the NICU. She was what they call a "grower and feeder". She came home a little under 4 lbs and has had a rough time packing on the pounds. She can still wear newborn outfits weight wise, but 3 month outfits length wise. It took her a little longer to get the idea of eating solids, she started about a 3 weeks after her brothers. She has caught up quick and loves to eat and talk. I am very happy to have little girl in the mix. She is such a pleasure when she wants to be!!


They are all starting to sit up by themselves (about 5 seconds) and we have added sippie cups to mealtimes. Before I know it they will be crawling all over the house!

It has been a very hectic, busy, crazy, awesome, amazing six months, but I can't wait to see what the next six have in store for us !!!!!