A Triplet Insurrection

Sufficient unto the day is one baby. As long as you are in your right mind don't you ever pray for twins. Twins amount to a permanent riot; and there ain't any real difference between triplets and a insurrection.
- Mark Twain, The Babies speech 1879

Quick English lesson:
Insurrection- an act or instance of rising in revolt, rebellion, or resistance against civil authority or an established government

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Of course I always post the fun and cute stuff but we do have hard minutes, hard hours and hard days. We don't usually have many of the hard weeks or months like we had early on but I know there will be more to come.

This week we did have a really hard week, the first in a long time. All five of us are sick with colds, the babies dropped their third nap and are now only taking two naps a day, we've had a total of four new teeth in just six days with a few more set to break through at any moment and, lastly, Keith was out of town.

Dinner is impossible this week because it is exactly at the same time they used to take their third nap. We dropped the nap because Payson and Madison were not really taking it anymore - at least not without lots of protesting - but they can't yet handle being up that long in the late afternoon/early evening. Madison's new thing is to throw little "fits" that consist of turning in circles over and over while crying. She goes from her hands and knees to a seated position and back to her hands and knees - over and over and over making little circles. So funny. Payson crawls around, except for when he's crying so hard that he is frozen in time, and stops and puts his head face down into the ground while tears stream down his face.

You may wonder why babies that are so upset aren't being held. Here are just a few of the things Keith and I do to prepare the babies for bed: make two trips to carry three babies upstairs, prepare bath, undress, bathe squirmy babies, brush teeth, prepare and warm bottles downstairs, carry boppies upstairs, dry, lotion, diaper, and dress babies, comb hair, carry bottles upstairs, turn on music and fan, turn off lights, lay babies down on boppies and, finally, slip bottles into babies' mouths. Then comes prayers, burping and night-night kisses. Now try all of that alone while mommy or daddy is out for the evening. Feel worn out just reading it? Exactly!

Hayden was the only one still happily taking the third nap and she is, surprisingly, doing the best with the schedule change. Well, except for at dinner time when she bats at and refuses to eat baby food, insists on pulling off her bib, screams for more finger food when she stuffs the last bite into her mouth and cries hysterically when you wipe her face. Ever heard triplet chaos? Be sure to turn down your volume first.

(L-R: Madison, Payson, Hayden)

Today the babies are 11-months-old. Just one month away from the big 1st!

Baring It All

It's crazy to think that just a year ago today, I had been on hospital bedrest for 9 days and there I would stay for another 6 weeks. It was such a scary time not knowing if the babies would make it and whether or not they would be healthy if they did. When admitted, I was 23 weeks along and had been having contractions for 4 or so weeks, but more intensely for the week or two prior. My cervical length was shortening and I had a plethora of relentless aches and pains. It was all worth it and I would, of course, do it all over again.

I recently received an email "update" on my "10-month-old's development" and here's what is said:

"For the most part, babies this age parallel play, staying happily engrossed in their own activities alongside one another, but without really interacting. Over time, though, you'll notice your baby stealing glances at fellow babies and perhaps crawling over to try to use the same toy."

Of course, I have very little knowledge about what it's like to have just one baby, but I have a very hard time believing this given how much our babies interact. Saturday night Keith and I were entertained for about 10 minutes as we watched Hayden and Madison chase each other in just their diapers. One would crawl after the other, the first one would stop, look back and giggle hysterically and then turn and start crawling after the original attacker. They were having a ball and were just cracking up at themselves. I don't expect to see this again for a long time and no, we don't have it on video because we were trying to stay out of the way and observe, but it was definitely a night to remember.

We got a new, gently-used jogging stroller this week and it is so smooth and fabulous. It is a beast but is much easier to push. It only works for outdoors and stores with double doors. Thankfully, it fits on our sidewalks which is pretty surprising. Just another reason why I just love our community.

This weekend we took grandma and the babies down to our neighborhood lakes for a picnic. The weather was beautiful and the babies loved exploring in the grass. Well, except for Payson who acts like grass is the grossest thing he has ever touched.

In other news, we feel so blessed that our insurance finally gave their approval for the babies to receive Synagis shots for RSV each month throughout the season. Synagis is the only FDA-approved medication to help protect high-risk babies from severe RSV disease. It's not a vaccine but rather each shot provides a dose of antibodies, virus-fighting substances, that help prevent RSV from infecting the baby’s lungs. We are so relieved that the babies have this extra layer of protection should they get infected.

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

The babies had fun dressing up for their first Halloween as The Wizard of Oz's famous Lion, Tiger and Bear, Oh My! We gave them a practice round a month ago and they were much more curious about their costumes this time around. Hayden, the lion, kept throwing her head back trying to get the hood off and pulling at the sides. Payson, the bear, just sat still as he appeared to have felt very confined even though he could crawl but it took more than the usual effort. As always, Madison, the tiger, wasn't fazed at all and was more interested in the other two's strange new look. They all just stared at each other and grabbed one another's hoods and costumes. Of course with 80 degree weather, the fleece and faux-fur costumes didn't last long.












Me as a hippie and Grandma as a tiger
















Jail babies (Payson on far right really does look like a criminal leaning against the rails)

Gotta Love 'Em...

...10-year reunions, that is. This weekend my dad and stepmom took the babies for 48 HOURS while Keith and I enjoyed my 10-year high school reunion festivities. We had lots of fun catching up with current and old friends and staying out late - or just going out at all, really. We took full advantage of our time "off" and I was able to cram quite a lot into an already busy weekend: homemade french toast for two, pedicure, gardening, lunch with friends, Costco, lunch date with Keith, friends' daughter's 1st birthday party and meeting up with friends before the event both nights. We stayed out late and, surprise, couldn't sleep in much, so we were totally wiped out come Sunday afternoon when we picked up the babies. But it was a good tired! Thanks Pops and Nunie!

Andrew visited us and the babies loved him. Actually, Payson cried when he first saw him ("Who is this strange hairy man in my house?"), but Madison was very smitten with him. She wouldn't even eat her lunch because she was too busy staring at him!

Over the weekend with Pops and Nunie, Madison worked on her big girl crawl and now alternates it with her hop-crawl. Hayden is standing alone, not holding onto anything, for about 10 seconds, and Payson is now into "push toys." Hayden cried hysterically (shaking, getting red, stomping feet) Sunday evening when Keith or I would set her down. I think she thought we were going to leave her again...or maybe she just missed her Pops and Nunie and two big furry friends. Monday she was the happiest I have ever seen her, so she must have been extra happy to see after her time away.

Professional Players

These babies really could be paid to play. They just love to play, play and play whether it is together, alone, with mommy or daddy, up high, down low, or on top of each other. Their giggles, smiles and laughs are just priceless.

The babies love every minute of their daddy time. I just love this shot of the girls in their cute little jeans.

The babies are crawling everywhere and getting into everything. They can pull up into a standing position whenever they want now using whatever large toy, table or object is available, including each other's heads. They are standing in their cribs and can now protest louder, harder and longer it seems.

Whenever I read to a baby in my lap I can't even count to 10 before the other babies start crawling as fast as possible to hijack story time. Everyone wants in on it and everyone wants the prime seat.

The babies all hold their own bottles so I get to sit and relax while they eat. Yeah right! At every feeding at least one baby would rather roll over and play than eat so I spend most of the feeding trying to gently pin them down. And when I am especially lucky all three babies are more interested in playing than feeding, constantly rolling onto their tummies and crawling away. It may not sound like a dilemma but it is exhausting spending 30+ minutes wrestling with three determined babies.

Hayden's lips are just so pouty and precious. They really stand out in this picture of her playing with blocks.

And did I mention that the babies are now 10 months old?

RS-What?

RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is one of my most despised acronyms. Those close to me know that these three letters rule my life, at least for 7 months out of the year.

Everyone loves a good medical lesson, right? Respiratory Syncytial (pronounced sin-sit-ee-al) Virus is a lower respiratory tract infection that causes an infection of the lungs and breathing passages. It acts like a common cold in most children and adults, but can lead to more serious illnesses in premature babies.

What's so terrible about RSV?

• It's the most common cause of lower respiratory tract infections in children worldwide
• Virtually all children contract it by the age of three
• There is a broad spectrum of RSV infection ranging from mild to fatal
• It's the leading cause of pneumonia and bronchiolitis in infants
• It often plays a major role in the pathogenesis of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Those with a history of prematurity have increased risk of developing serious RSV infection
• It spreads easily from person to person through contact with respiratory secretions

How easily is it spread? In addition to being spread by secretions, it also lives on surfaces and unwashed skin for hours. Another factor making the spread of RSV almost unavoidable is the period of viral shedding which may occur up to eight days before symptoms become apparent and last as long as four weeks in children under the age of one.

With Texas' RSV season starting October 1st, I was busy seeing friends with babies before we were required to stay home with very limited exposure to children and those who are sick (or have been exposed to someone who is sick). The babies and I loved our little playdates and will really miss them. We will also miss our little outings, errands, playgroup activities and visits to the park. We are already dreaming about our days of freedom come May 1st. Here are just a few pics of our recent get togethers with friends:

Ella, fun and full of energy, second from left. (mom Anni C.)

Sweet, sweet Charlotte on left. (mom Robin N.)

Logan, Payson's buddy in our 'hood, first on left (mom Cathy G.)

Neighbor-hood playgroup

Big smile from Matthew at playgroup. He and Hayden really hit it off.

Precious Lezon triplets, EJ, Anna and Issac, first three on left (mom Allison)

God's miracle, Miles, with his mom Lindsay N. and Payson who just loved him.

Aunt Chelsey and cousins Mikayla and Chloe with Payson and Hayden.

Adorable 8-week-old Braden with mom Morgan B. and Payson who is coming after the camera

Hayden playing with her girl Reese and mom Anna W.

Also, last week we celebrated our niece Emma's 1st birthday, which was lots of fun. And today we had a special visit from our good friend Katie who finally got to meet the babies.

STRANGER QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
(While out running an errand with the babies in the triplet stroller)
"Do you really have three babies?"
I get what he was asking but I still wanted to answer with, "No, they are pretend."