Wednesday, June 8, 2011

4 months and change

So it is hard to believe that the boys are 4 months now. Actually, 4 months and 11 days. I know the exact count because we took them to the doctor this morning for their check-ups and these are the stats ----

Jack: 14 lbs, 4 oz; 24 1/2 inches long
Graham: 13 lbs, 5 oz; 24 inches long
Anthony: 13 lbs, 13 oz; 23 1/2 inches long

At this same appointment, Chase was 13 lbs, 8 oz. I cannot believe that the boys, who were 4 weeks earlier and half his weight at birth have not only caught up to him, but surpassed him in some cases!

So what did the doctor have to say? Honestly, not very much because they are doing so well. I am a firm believer in doing what works for you so the boys have been spoon-eating cereal since they were 3 1/2 months old. What that means is that I started WAY early in the minds of most people who think you should start at 6 months. However, my boys have been sleeping for 9-10 hours at night since that time so you tell me....is it worth it? YES! The doctor is fine with it because they are eating from the spoon and obviously they have gained weight and look great! They have met all their 'benchmarks' in terms of development and he is very pleased with how things are going so far. They got shots - which did not make them happy followed with their morning bottle - which did make them happy and then proceeded to sleep for almost 3 hours (a record for them in the middle of the day!)

Chase has been home with me for a little over 2 weeks now and we are getting a rhythm. I will not say it is easy but I think we are getting a routine that is working for us. We go to the YMCA at least 4 days a week which is good for all of us but especially for Chase and I. He gets to play with friends and I get some time devoted just to me.

The day goes a little like this (normally):
7 AM - Wake triplets to feed
I wash bottles, start laundry, get my breakfast
8:30 AM - Chase starts to stir and gets breakfast, triplets start to go down for nap
Hopefully Chase and I get some play time either inside or out (if it isn't too hot already)
9:30 AM - Triplets start to wake up
11 AM - Triplets bottle, Chase snack
Head to YMCA and hopefully triplets fall asleep there
~1 PM - Chase and I eat lunch
2 PM - Chase goes for rest time (we can't call it a nap or he pitches a fit!)
3 PM - Triplets afternoon bottle
4 PM - Chase up from rest time (if he falls asleep which is 50/50 these days) and snack
5 PM - Hopefully triplets start to nap so I can start dinner for those of us with teeth
6:30 PM - Triplets cereal
7 PM - Chase and I clean up for night
8 PM (ish) Triplets last bottle
9 PM - all kids in bed sleeping

When I am not feeding a child (or multiple children) is when I try to get household stuff done but that is easier said than done these days. Lots of days, I am folding laundry on the floor while kids of all ages are playing with me and around me. Of course, there are days when we run errands or have other stuff planned so we sub the YMCA with the errands and then try to go to the YMCA in the afternoon. Chase will have 4 weeks of 1/2 day camp this summer starting in a few weeks so that will be good for him - and me!

All in all we are surviving, at least I like to think so. I will try to write more if I get some time but now I have laundry waiting to be folded while Chase naps and the triplet are semi-patiently waiting for their next feeding.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

General Update and some new pics

I just wanted to give a general update and post some pictures showing what we've been up to lately.

All the boys:


















The boys are all doing great. The triplets are sleeping better and better each day, which is great. Their latest pattern, at least at night, has been that they feed (bottle) at 7 pm, play for a little bit and they typically fall asleep between 9:00 and 9:30. We wake them up to take their last bottle at 11 pm. They all typically go right back to sleep...of course it helps that we swaddle them at this point. We get them in the crib by 11:30 and then we get to head to bed. They don't feed again until 7 am. Usually one (or sometimes two of them) will stir a little around 6 am, but we can get up, throw the pacifier back in, and they'll go right back to sleep and stay down until around 7:00 when it's time to feed. This pattern has been going on for a few weeks and getting more and more consistent, which is great. Consistency allows us to plan...plus you sleep much better when you're pretty certain that they won't stir all night. Good sleep is the key to surviving this stage!!

Of course, now that we've got them in a good pattern, we're getting more brave (and selfish I guess) and we're trying to move the 11 pm feeding up (earlier) so that we can start going to bed before midnight. We'll see how that works over the next few weeks.

Aside from that...

The boys have started eating cereal (with formula instead of water mixed in)...they really love it and have figured it out quickly.
All together with Chase and Captain as the audience:























Anthony:























Graham:























Jack:























They're finally big enough to fit in the bumbo chairs comfortably. They can't sit there long, but they do enjoy it. Here's Graham:























And now story time with Tigger:


















On May 7th, some friends had a Kentucky Derby party. It was very kid friendly and a lot of fun for all. After hotdogs and burgers for dinner, they had a stick-horse race for the kids. Actually, multiple races because of the different age groups...there were a LOT of kids there. First up was the under 4 group of about 8 kids. Chase was ready with his horsey.


















On your mark...


















Get set...Go!!


















After getting a slow start out of the gate, Animal Kingdom, made a hard charge on the back straight-away and then took the inside track around the final curve to take the victory. As a 12-1 horse, he paid out good money for the win!























After the stick-horse race, they had two live ponies for the kids. Chase loved the pony ride!


















The people who brought the ponies also brought a box full of little chicks, which of course were a huge hit as well. Chase loved holding them and petting them.




































The triplets are beginning to really enjoy Mickey Mouse.


















Of course, Chase is ready to stand in as a substitute if one of the triplets is getting a diaper change.


















The triplets are still sharing a crib (laying cross-ways) for now. However, Chase is also willing to share his crib with his little brothers (Graham here) whenever they need a quick nap.


















That's all for now. The boys go in for the 4 month appointment on June 8th (albeit a couple weeks after the turn 4 months old) so we'll see much weight they've gained. Best guess is that they're around 12 or 13 pounds, but we'll know for sure in a couple of weeks.

Until then...

Monday, May 9, 2011

Mother's Day - Fantasy versus Reality

When I was growing up, I had images of mothers all around the world sitting around on Mother's Day doing absolutely nothing...and I mean, nothing. As I got a little older, I realized that maybe they still did some things, but it wasn't much. Now that I am a mom myself, especially with an active 3 year old and triplet 3 month olds, I realize just how far off base I was. That was strictly a fantasy and not at all like the reality.

While Mother's Day took on a new meaning for me 2 years ago (my first one after having Chase), I was still able to have some me time. Chase has been old enough the last couple of years that Jason was able to 'handle him' on his own so I could have some child-free mommy time. This year however was a totally different story! While Jason fed the triplets their 7:00 AM feeding so I could sleep in just a little that is where my day of relaxation ended. I was greeted by fussy babies who finally gave way to sleeping babies and I thought I would have some time here. Instead, enter the almost 3 year old who woke up not feeling well. Claimed his head hurt - no fever though. Jason was off getting my tires rotated and balanced and the oil changed in my car (yet something else that is NOT possible with infant triplets - so thank you babe). Instead of some quiet PJ time with Chase and some Mickey Mouse cartoons, I got sick Chase - and I mean literally sick, as in all over my chair sick. Cue my cleaning skills to try and salvage the chair and the morning. Luckily for me, the babies slept through it all - even the high-pitched wails of a scared to death Chase! From there I did get some snuggle time on the couch with Chase while we watched Toy Story (for the umpteen thousandth time!) Jason arrived home in time to feed the triplets their next meal. From there we proceeded to do laundry (with some extra thrown in from our 'illness' adventure), make lunch, clean house --- you get the picture right? Basically, it became just like every other day.

The irony is that I wouldn't have traded it for anything. It is doing those everyday things with them and for them that reminds me just how lucky I am. Now don't get me wrong, there are moments where I want to run screaming for the hills but there are also moments when all I want to do is freeze time and keep them like this forever. Take the moment last night as I am in the glider trying to calm Graham enough to get him to fall asleep. In one of those "I think I am going to cry this is too sweet" moments, Chase walks up to us and says, "Mommy, I am just going to be gentle with him" and proceeds to stroke the top of his head ever so lightly and then bends in for a kiss. Literally made me tear up. I am not wishing away any of those precious moments with wanting them to get bigger and older. Honestly, I didn't do that with Chase either but I am enjoying watching them grow and change - all of them.

As much as my fantasy of Mother's Day is completely different from my reality - I can honestly say in this instance, reality is so much better!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

What are we doing now?

Well, even with Chase in daycare full-time, it is still nearly impossible to find the time to update the blog on a regular basis. On those rare, and I mean rare, occasions when all 3 boys nap at the same time, that is when I need to clean house, wash bottles, do laundry - actually, try to finish laundry since that is literally a daily task for me! I have managed to get some really cute group shots lately since we had Easter which put us all in our 'finest' My grandparents came up at my request and spent the week before and a few days after Easter with us. That meant that we had lots of quality family time - dying Easter eggs with the cousins, play time at Matt and Jennifer's house, playtime at our house, Easter brunch with the E-bunny, golf (yes, Jason and I played golf with Matt and Jennifer on Easter Sunday compliments of all the grand and great-grandparents watching the kiddos!) The warmer weather has meant more time outside and more freedom for me to get around town. That also means that the boys have new wardrobes - yes, we have upgraded to 0-3 month clothing! I have a little bit longer before I think they will then upgrade to 3-6 month clothing for the summer months.

Enjoy just a few of the shots. I have put the rest on snapfish for everyone to enjoy with captions.








Sunday, April 10, 2011

Finally a post from Dad...it's been a while.

Well, for a couple of reasons, I haven't been great about keeping up with the blog.
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.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

March Madness - who will come out on top?

Okay, so it should come as no surprise that in this house, March is a very important month - Basketball! Since Jason and I are avid fans of college basketball, the boys had their initiation this year for the NCAA's. They have figured out that it gets very intense during these weekends in March while Mom and Dad watch games and get fired up over their brackets (even when they get completely busted!). With that in mind, I have created my own bracket for the boys to describe what the month of March has been like in the house.

First round - boys starting to stay awake longer during the day and playing more with their floor toys. Who came out on top? Jack! He was the first to actually start to interact with the toys and make them move and sing.


Second round - the boys sleep for almost 5 hours at night. Who had to be forced awake for consecutive nights to feed and moves on in this round? Graham! He is going back to his label of being the sleeper of the group. I can't wait until he can sleep on his stomach since that is his favorite sleeping position.

Third round - the boys continue to make public appearances. We participated in the Franklin 5K in early March to raise money for ZTA and the Susan G. Komen foundation. How did they do and who moves on in this round? Jack, Graham and Anthony as well as Chase. All the boys did a great job. Jason and Chase ran/walked while Mom and I took the triplets with us. As Mom and I got closer to the finish line, Chase burst out of the crowd and took off running with us. Of course, this caused the entire crowd to cheer and clap which only encouraged him to run faster and farther. Mom had to start jogging to try and catch him so we didn't lose him in the crowds! It was adorable!

Fourth round - the boys get their first round of shots at their 2 month appointment. Jack weighs in at 9 lbs. 3 oz with Graham weighing in at 8 lbs. 7 oz and Anthony at 8 lbs. 14 oz. Who moves on this time? All of them again! While Graham is still the smallest, he is gaining at the same rate as Anthony. Of course, Jack is the largest and our theory is because he is the only one that doesn't spit up when he eats. However, all 3 boys did a great job and hardly cried at all when the shots were done. I can't believe how big they are getting. Each one has his own unique traits that are starting to show up.

So where do we stand with who advances to the next round? All the boys, Chase included, are doing fabulously! Mom read me a quote from Phil Mickelson that really hits home for me these days. To summarize: There is no reason for me to try to get back the life I knew before this, I have a new reality. It may take some time for me to figure out this new reality but I am coming to really love it!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Is that the same kid?

Nope. All four of these pictures are around the six week mark, but it's:

Chase:


Jack:


Graham:


Anthony: