colds all around here...updates

Two weeks after they were born. Hudson came home (he's in the middle). Now only 2 babies can fit on my chest.

Dan and I have been sick since he came home last Saturday. We've been wearing our masks around the kids, but I guess it only helps so much. The boys have runny noses last week and since this Saturday they've started coughing too. Called the pedi and they recommended some over counter meds. Skyler didn't have runny noses/coughs until today. Sux @ss, this party of five is all sick! Please pray it's nothing major!!!

A few updates:

Walking: they've been walking to their room for naps and to the feeding table. There are times when I still have to carry someone, the ones who's not going in the right direction. :-) They've also been "dancing". After dinner, we normally put on some music and they would bounce, move their bodies up and down to the beat. So far they seem to like old school rap, OS alternative music, and reggae.

Toys: they all can put a block together w/one block. They seem to know the words "together" and "apart". I've been working with them on this for a few weeks now and they finally got it. They need new activities, they are bored w/the boxes and push toys, so they've been playing w/our shoes. I know it's dirty, I can't stand it, but it's the only furniture piece that we have not been able to baby proofed successfully. We've tried all sorts of glue, but they somehow manage to open up the doors...will keep trying when we have time or think about it. Also they've figured out that they can walk through the ball pit so the play area gets messy quite often (balls everywhere).

Clothes: they are finally in 12 month clothing. For some reason, Skyler has WAY more clothes than the boys and I have two boys here.

Bottles: When it was day light saving time, we dropped their bottles to 6 oz. formula in the evening. BTW, it only took them 2 days to adjust to the time difference, I just let them sleep 30 minutes in the morning and their naps and then their bodies caught up to the time change. When Dan was gone, I lowered them to 5 oz. Our goal is to wean them off of this evening bottle before the year's over.

Skyler: has had serious tantrums when she doesn't get her way, especially if she doesn't have a particular toy. She likes to flip backwards and anything that involves jumping, rolling, and being picked up. She's still the most social out of the three.

Hudson: being quite the quiet one these days, he's not screaming/crying anymore when I'm not around. I think that phase passed him (hope I don't jinx this). He's getting to be really independent. Likes to play w/toys that he gets to put together.

Tobin: lately has been the crankster, he's been attached to my hips almost everyday. Dan thinks its b/c he's tramatized by him leaving (his dad left so now he has to hold onto his mom). I think it's b/c he's teething, but who really knows. My left arm has gotten so strong from holding him while I'm getting meals ready.

It's amazing that they are all developmentally at the same stage, I wish I could say someone was better at something, but they're not. They all seem to be in the "monkey see, monkey do" stage. If one person does something, then the next guy will follow then the next. It's hilarious watching them. I can't believe how much they have grown! I keep thinking back to last year when Hudson came home and I had all three on my chest rocking them. Pix's at the top, I still can't figure out how to move the pictures or anything on here.

Thanksgiving

We hosted Thanksgiving this year, thought it would be easier since they're all mobile. Food was done potluck style: Gail brought the turkey, dressing and a few other dishes, Julie made home-made mashed potatos (10 lbs of it to be exact) and brought a ham, I made a salad, bacon wrapped asparagus, and a pumpkin cream cheese dip. Other family brought dessert, but I can't remember who brought what. We had enough food to feed tons of people! Or bunch of leftovers! :0)

My mom and rest of Dan's family ate first while Dan, me and Matt watched the kids. We ate once the kids went down for their second nap (4ish). Lance, one of Julie's friends also came to dinner.

I finally got to use my china, only get to do this once a year so might as well. My salad & asparagus dish.

Table w/Bob and Gabby (Matt's girlfriend) starting first at the end.
Boys in the box! (Tobin & Hudson)

We feed the kids their first Thanksgiving meal. They loved the turkey and ham and didn't care for the mashed potatos, it'll take some time. Dan pulled his mask down for the pic. We both have been sick since he came back last Saturday. We've been wearing our mask (Pedi recommended) around the kids. It sux b/c you can hardly breathe in it and it gets really hot. Tobin, Hudson, Skyler

Matt w/Skyler

Julie w/Hudson

Daddy w/Tobin, giving him a swig of no, not wine, just apple cider.

I have LOTS to be thankful for, my wonderful children, family, and friends. And our health and we live in a country w/all these freedom! And I especially am thankful for my wonderful husband!

Some QT with my family

Since my sis, Marie had to work Thanksgiving this year, we celebrated on Monday when she was off. She brought the kids over and my mom and Matthew came too. There was no turkey, just quality family time and we ended up ordering pizza. Last year we didn't get to spend Thanksgiving together b/c our kiddos were too young and we didn't want any "kid" germs in the house. Anyhow, this year, thank goodness Anne and Andrew were not sick so we were able to spend time together. Anne really enjoyed spending time with our little ones, she's such a big girl now! She'll make a great babysitter one day! Andrew is a little rough w/them, but what do you expect, he's a boy!

Anne feeding Skyler her tomato basil soup.

Anne w/Skyler. Tobin's in the background.
Matthew keeping Andrew company w/his new toy.

Andrew in the ball pit as we all watch to see how many balls would come out.

When the kids went down for their second nap, we went outside to play serendes (sp??). It was the most fun we've had in a long time as a family. Anne and Andrew are hilarious, they kept doing serendes from the movie New Moon, which Dan and I and the rest of us, except Marie knows anything about. I forgot what Andrew's doing in this photo.

Anne's pretending to be a photograhper while Marie is pretending to be a model.

Andrew, again not sure what he's doing.

Anne

"regular" playdate (11.20.09)

We went to a regular playdate last Friday. By "regular" I meant the mommies there had one baby. It was through the exercise program I joined, Strollerfit. The kids did really well, they even got to munch on snacks there. They played well with other kids/babies there, but mostly they hung out with each other. I could tell the mommies had lots of questions for me, but didn't really want to pry. I answered what was asked...I think people are just so curious about multiples. My main answer is "this is all I know, I don't know what it feels like to take care of just one baby".

Matthew was a BIG help!

Thank you Matthew for staying w/me while Dan was in Argentina for 2 whole weeks. I couldn't have done it without you, well I could of, but not sanely. Everything went smoothly, I couldn't tell if the kids knew Daddy was missing or not, I think they know their routine is different though. With Matthew here, we were able to take the kids to the park on the day Alejandra is here. And I was able to give the dogs their evening walks after the kids are asleep too. One adult to one kid is very nice!

Matthew watching over Hudson.

Pushing Tobin & Skyler on the swings.
Tobin

Mommy and Skyler

Alejandra and Hudson

Hudson

Matthew making sure everyone has their hats on for our walks, one evening was getting chilly!

Trio in the boxes (Tobin, Hudson, and Skyler).

Family help and backyard fun! (and I did it)!!!!

Last weekend, Dan's family came by to help out. Matt came on Saturday to play w/the kids. Kiddos had both Uncle Matthews playing w/them.

Then on Sunday, Dan's parents & Julie came by to watch the kids after their first nap so I could go get a pedi and run a few errands. Matthew also took a break w/some friends. They even feed them their lunch. They took them outside to play with their new toys before it started raining. I came back to put them down for their second nap.

All enjoying their water & sand table, but w/o the main ingredients.

Skyler w/Grandpa. I just love her smile! BTW, she has (3) new teeth, 2 on the top and 1 on bottom left in the back. She didn't have any signs of teething this whole time. I happened to look inside her mouth one day and found all these teeth in there.
Tobin, isn't he just adorable? Since Daddy's been out of town, it's been Tobin that's the most crankiest...maybe he misses Daddy or he could be teething really bad! Drooling all the time!

Tobin- love his thighs!

Hudson w/his pine cone. Matthew's been helping me w/the family walks and started introducing the kids to pine cones and leaves.

Julie watching over Skyler & Tobin in their clubhouse.

Skyler. Love this fashion statement, onsies w/shoes, no socks.

OK I just posted this pix b/c I can't get enough of their thighs!

Grandma w/the kiddos.

Hudson & Tobin (only bad thing about this pix is Redford's butt)

More time w/water & sand table

Hudson: I found the secret door!

Swing time!

Hudson

Since Matthew was out, Julie was going to stay w/me to help w/the family walk when the kids woke up, but it was raining and I thought for sure it would not let up, so I told her she didn't have to stay. What do you know, by the time the kids woke up, the rain had stopped. I figured I might as well do the walk myself. Got all three kids strapped in the stroller and took kids & doggies for walk. First time doing this myself. It wouldn't be such a big deal, but Molly has never been trained (our fault- no time) so when she sees something she's curious or wants, she lunges or pulls. Again not a big deal, but she's eighty something pounds! Luckily Redford is trained and he was awesome! He followed his commands and pretty much stayed right beside me. I'm glad I got over my nerves and took them for their walk. Then I feed them and put them to bed myself that night. I was very proud of myself for this, something I wasn't sure I could tackle. The kids are totally different when it's just me and me and someone else. I think they know that I'm by myself so they try to not give me grieve! It also helps when I sing to them instead of talking! (little mommy technique I discovered) Thanks kiddos!!!

we miss you Daddy!!!!

Can't wait til you're home next Saturday!!! Thanks to Julie for these pix, she helped Daddy couple weeks ago when I had my GNO (Girls Night Out).

Tobin

Hudson
Skyler

one week down, one more to go...

Kids from my SF class, they were wiped out too! They had a nutrionist talked after the class.

Skyler, Hudson, and Tobin

Wheee! I've made it one week so far, Dan's been out of town since last Saturday or actually early Sunday morning. He's in Argentina for another recruiting event. Last Saturday he left for the airport about dinner time and I did the feeding alone. My brother was on his way to help me, but he got called into work. So that was my first attempt to do a dinner feeding and put the kids down by myself. It really was not that bad except towards the end, right before bed, when everyone wants you! They all started crying when I brought them to the room, but within 10 minutes everyone was asleep, just a long $ss ten minutes! Then I got a call that his plane had issues and their flight was being delayed til early Sunday morning. He was on his way home. Well atleast I know I can put them down by myself....I guess when it comes to it, mommy power kicks into gear when it's called for!

Sunday, Matthew came and helped. We're continuing the routine so that we get to do our family walk with the kids and the doggies after their second nap. Monday-Wednesday, we hired Callie, the neighbor kid since Matthew works those evenings. Matthew was back on starting Thursday and actually he will continue til next Saturday, 11/21.

It really has not been that bad holding down the fort w/3 kids, 2 dogs, a cat and taking care of our RE too. Two weeks before he left, I was cooking nonstop for the kids so I have bunches of food in the freezer. The only thing I have to cook if I run out is breakfast stuff which is not too bad. I have to plan which days I'm doing what and taking care of what business during their naps and when Alejandra's here. I am also doing their baths on Tues & Fri during the day so Alejandra can help.

For about a couple of months now, I've been jogging on Tues and Thurs w/the doggies in the morning. Last week, I joined StrollerFit, an exercise program where you get to bring your kids with you and exercise while they're in the stroller. Their schedule works perfectly with our schedule. The class is 9:30-10:30 at Bendwood Park (near Town & Country) or Hershey Park. I tried it out last Wed and Fri and the kids did amazingly well in the stroller the whole time. It's an hour long and we sing nursery rhymes, alphabets, numbers, Spanish, Continents, while we're exercising. April, the instructor is really good, she knows when she needs to move us so the kids are moving too. I will continue to do this and will add Monday to it, that will keep me active for 5 days! Another great thing is I've met so many moms through this already that are really genuinely nice. They also do playgroups and outings together. I really have to thank another triplet mom, Marie for introducing me to this.

Basically that's how I've been surviving while Dan's out of town. Oh and I get to order out and eat whatever food I want, no cooking for me! YEA!!!

silly fact- diaper count

I had to find out, did a little test to see how much diapers being changed these days. I should have done this when they first got home from the NICU, but was there any time to think about that? The box of size 3 Pampers which has 204 diapers last us 19 days. Interesting...

Teamwork

Dewberry Farm

What better way to help them ease into daylight saving time then to give them a day full of activities to wear them out and make sleeping better. This was a fun filled weekend for them. Saturday being Halloween and then we went to Dewberry Farm yesterday. Most mommies I know have been raving about how great this place is so we had to check it out for ourselves.

Based on their website, we thought it would take atleast an hour or more to get there so we put them in the car for the AM nap and drove there. Well, it only took us about 40 minutes to get there so we ended up driving around for about another 45 minutes. Then Tobin woke up...then Hudson, that's when it's time to go to the Farm.

There were a lot of activities and things to do. Problem was a lot of the stuff required someone to hold a kid if they were too small. Well our reinforcements hadn't arrived yet (my mom & Matthew were to join us an hour later). It was my fault that they came later b/c I thought the trip would take us longer to get there and I really thought they would nap longer. So we headed to the safest place for them to play, what they call Little Farmersville. It's a somewhat enclosed play area w/swings, slides, sandbox, and a tunnel/climbing thing.

Daddy w/Skyler.

Tobin loved pushing all these tikes around.


He's at it again.

More w/Tobin.

Tobin & Hudson being boys!

Hudson

Hudson

My mom and Matthew came so we were able to take the hayride to the pumpkin patch.

Skyler and her pumpkin.

Mommy and her boys

What is Skyler saying to Daddy?

Tobin: "this pumpkin is the best one".

Skyler: "no mine is the best one".

Hey my shirt matches this big ball thing.

This was really funny, Tobin was actually trying to pick this pumpkin up. He was able to lift it for a teeny bit.

Hudson & his pumpkin.

My mom & Hudson.

After the pumpkin patch, we feed them lunch, but they weren't having much of an appetite. I think they were to stimulated and excited by everything around them. So we checked out the animals.

My mom and Skyler petting a donkey.

Matthew & Hudson.

My mom & Skyler.

Everyone in the barn.

Matthew & Hudson w/the goat (I think)???

After the animals they were getting really cranky so I thought maybe they're tired so we tried to head out. Dan and I went to buy some food to take w/us on the car ride home, but when the boys saw me eat my roasted chicken legs they wanted some. Then they wanted Dan's corndogs. They couldn't get enough of the food! Looks like they caught a second wind b/c they were happy babies again. So happy that this last part has got to be the most funniest. As we were leaving, I went to buy us some homemade fudge (they are delish!!!) and Dan took them to the entrance area. They let them out of the stroller to play and they were everywhere! So we put them in the part where you buy tickets b/c it's somewhat enclosed. They were having a ball walking up and down the aisle. Skyler and Tobin even played "peek a boo" w/the ticket lady! It was really hilarious watching them.