First, there doesn't seem to be a lot of time to keep up with it the these days. We're on go non-stop around here, so any quiet moments that lend themselves to writing an entry (there aren't many) are met quickly with sleep. Second, there is only so much to give updates on. Obviously everything is going really well. The boys are eating, sleeping (some), pooping, peeing and crying. It's a lot like Groundhog Day...every day seems pretty much the same. Except for weekends I guess, since I'm around all day.
The good news is it does feel like we're moving into a new phase with the boys. They are sleeping a little better at night. Leslie is still living with us (which has been great), so she and Melissa feed them around midnight. Usually they can get the boys swaddled and down to sleep by 12:30 am or so. Early on, they would start to stir for the 4 am feeding by 3:30 or so. I'd get up and put pacifiers back in for a bit and finally we'd succumb and feed them around 4:00 . These days, they start stirring around 5:00 or so, and if we're lucky, we can hold them off until close to 6 am. That's been great, because it's almost a "full" night of sleep for me. I usually go to bed around 10:30 or so...asleep by 11:00 and get up around 5:30 or 6:00 with a few "ups and downs" to the nursery. Not too bad. Melissa on the other hand still doesn't ever get a full night's sleep. Sometimes, if the boys are doing well, she goes to bed around 10:00 and sleeps until the midnight feeding. Leslie stays up in case one of the boys fusses any during that time. After the early morning feeding (say around 6 am), Melissa usually goes back to bed for a little bit, but how long she sleeps will vary depending on the boys. If they can sleep until 7:30 or so, then Leslie is back up and can help console them. Overall though, we're making it through the nights and getting a lot more sleep than we did during the first six weeks.
The days can also be challenges, but Melissa and her Mom are making those work for the most part. Obviously during the week, they are on their own while I'm at work. We have highly encouraged Leslie to continue her social life which is full of cards, tennis and visiting with lots of friends, which leaves Melissa the bulk of the responsibility for the boys. For now, Chase is still in daycare full-time, although we're pulling him out at the end of April. He does great and loves it there, but financially, it's just too hard to justify. We're going to be signing him up for some summer camp stuff (June-August) and then he's going to do part time pre-school at the YMCA starting in September. These days, Melissa takes the triplets to the YMCA with her for an occasional workout. They are now old enough to stay in the nursery at the YMCA for up to an hour. So that's enough for Melissa to get some time on the treadmill or something. Other than the gym, Melissa tries to get the boys out of the house at least once a day for something. Whether it's a trip to the mall (maybe not even to buy anything), a Target trip, a lunch date with her Mom, or a trip down to her school (she's made it down there a few times to visit with co-workers), any chance to get out of the house helps her sanity a great deal.
Aside from the "same old, same old", we've had our share of visitors over the last month or so.
Missy & Jill Rolewicz visited the last weekend in February. The next weekend, my step-sister Lindsey came up from Texas to help out and visit. Then Popi came into town the following weekend, and Nana the next weekend. After a weekend off, Nana came back into town last weekend and then Brian and Nora, some family friends of Melissa's from Savannah, came to visit this past weekend. Needless to say, all of these guests have been great. Not only for visiting, but also for helping out around here. Whether it's helping with the triplets, or taking Chase outside to play, every little bit helps a ton!
Here are some random pictures and videos that "paint the picture" of our activities the last month or so.
Chase has continued to hone his baseball skills. He's very good at both hitting and pitching (at least for a 2 1/2 year old). Here are some youtube clips of him showing off his lefty swing (yes, he appears to be a lefty).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw5cyFHsNgI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjQ_1akXDAQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PKKXfmYYIA
Chase has also been working on his golf game too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn4jmoaYKM0
Chase loves having Shadow around...she's more mobile and fun to play with than his two dogs. Plus, she gives good kisses!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpIEk53P6J4
Oh, and Chase also enjoys throwing pine cones over the fence...he's seen Daddy do it, so he took it on himself to go to the far corner of the backyard and help out a little!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL4EEv5aWZU
A quick glimpse of the triplets playing quietly...it's a rarity!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TXp_ys2xa8
Chase has been doing P90X...check out those abs!
He's pretty proud of himself for all the hard work!
Chase also likes playing with his brothers. Here, he's showing Graham how to play with one of his toys.
