Adios

Don't worry, loyal blog readers, I am not saying goodbye to you and the blog. I am saying ADIOS to our little friend...

(Stokes' monitor)

I've been feeling that Stokes didn't need his monitor anymore for a while but had to wait for the official word from our Pulmonologist. Well, we got the word today. He agreed with me based on the last download. Wooo hooo! Party time!

We asked Stokes what he thought about getting rid of his monitor and here's his reaction.

Translation = Yay! I am so awesome!

So adios, sayonara, ciao to the monitor!!!

This week's appointment: Synagis

We had an appointment this week to go to the Pulmonologist to get Synagis shots for the babies. Synagis provides antibodies to help fight RSV, in case the boys were to get it. Not all babies get Synagis, but my babies qualified based on their gestational age at birth (27 weeks), since they are at a much higher risk than a full term baby to have major complications and hospitalization with RSV if they were to get it. 

I was so glad to have both Nanas here to help with the appointment. We had a 1:1 adult to child ratio...nice! That doesn't happen much. We didn't even bother with strollers. We each just carried a baby in our arms. 

Exciting info...updated weights and lengths!!!

Stokes - 11 lb, 7 oz; 22 3/4"

Ryan - 10 lb, 9 oz; 23 1/4"

William - 12 lb, 2 oz; 23"

Pre-appointment, Ryan on the couch hanging out...like a big boy! 

Boys in car seats, ready to go!

At the Pulmonologist, waiting for our appointment

Once we got to the room we stripped the babies down to their diapers to get weighed.

Stokes

Nana and William 

William on the scale

He's turning into a chunky monkey!

The nurse got weights, lengths, head circumference, oxygen saturation & heart rate. Then they got the Synagis shots ready based on each baby's weight. 

Ryan getting his oxygen sat & heart rate taken

 

Ryan getting his shot (not happy!)

The boys all cried for just a minute after they got their shots but calmed down pretty quickly. It was great to have three of us there to hold and comfort them when they were upset. They all went to sleep in the car on the way home. 

We have one more round of Synagis shots next month and then they'll be done. It does not sound like they will be candidates to get the shot next winter, which will hopefully mean they are strong and healthy enough to be able to withstand RSV if they were to get it.

The Nanas!

The boys' Nanas are here with us this week. The Nanas are my Aunt Mary Nell and my Aunt Wanda and they are so nurturing and sweet. You should see them with the babies! It's love! Not only are the Nanas helping to take care of the boys, they're taking care of Thomas and me, too. Cooking, washing bottles, keeping the kitchen clean, they are doing it all! They're going to watch the boys on Friday and Saturday night this weekend. Thomas and I are going to have a date night and go to a party/marriage celebration for my longtime friend, Beth. We are so looking forward to both.

Here are pictures of "the Nanas" with the boys. 

Nana 1 holding Stokes

Nana 1 with Ryan

Nana Wanda getting Stokes ready for the day

Nana Wanda holding William

Whoa...

We had an earthquake last night. It was small and its epicenter was in Edgefield, SC. I totally felt it. I was pumping and watching men's figure skating Olympics coverage (surprise, surprise!) and felt the house shake! I had no clue what it was. I only realized it was an earthquake when I got on Facebook and saw everyone posting about it. It was not a huge deal but I was shocked nonetheless. It's just crazy that we had several days of snow and an earthquake in the same week! Don't worry, everyone, the babies slept right through it. They were sleeping hard...well, like babies! ;)

Sweethearts

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, Y'ALL!

These are my three little sweethearts!

William: "Yes, I'm wearing white pants before Easter...so what are you gonna do about it?" He's a rebel without a cause!

Ryan: "Mom, you're my sweetheart this year." My little gentleman. 

Stokes: "I'm begging. Will you please be my Valentine?" What a little charmer!

Smiley boy

We didn't have real "Valentine's" outfits so I just scrounged around for something red for them to wear today.

They got to meet my friend Adrienne today during her lunch break. It was so good to catch up with an old friend that I hadn't seen in a really long time! 

After that, April, our Early Interventionist, came by to work with the boys on their development. This is a service provided through BabyNet and we get to work with April once a week. Usually it's on Thursdays, but the snow messed up our regular schedule this week. April helps with tummy time, rolling over, tracking toys with their eyes, reaching for toys/objects, sitting, and several other things! This week she thought that we should do a referral to a pediatric eye doctor to check Ryan's eyes for vision issues. You may remember the eye doctor we've been seeing was only checking for ROP, not vision. Ryan doesn't make a whole lot of eye contact and doesn't track as well as the other boys, so we thought we should get his vision checked just to see! I will let you know what they say.

Thomas, my big sweetheart, and I have a really romantic evening planned...leftovers for dinner followed by washing and making bottles! Maybe we will squeeze in a little Olympics...not sure if we'll have time. Haha! 

We actually are going to go on a Valentine's date in a few weeks. My Aunt Trish is "gifting" us a night out and she's going to pay for our former night nurse to sit with the boys for a few hours. So although our night tonight will be same ol', same ol', we will get our date in eventually!

Our home is certainly filled with lots of love this Valentine's Day! I hope yours is, too! XOXO

Our "plans"

I think this picture says it all

 

HAHAHAHA!

I think these onesies are hilarious. One of our friends sent us a picture of triplets wearing shirts like these shortly after we announced we were having triplets. I thought it was just so funny and decided that we would get some of those shirts. Luckily, some family friends, Dave and Carolyn, got these onesies made for us. I could not have been more pleased. 

Of course, this is just a joke. We unconditionally LOVE each and every one of our babies. We definitely were NOT planning on having triplets, but God decided to bless us with three babies. Each and every day we realize more and more what a true blessing these sweet triplets are.

It is difficult to get a decent picture of 3 babies...and I usually don't succeed. This photo op was no exception. Here are some "outtake" pictures. Enjoy! :)

Here's another cute one but Ryan was covering up his shirt!

Snow babies

It is snowing SO. HARD. today. I love it! Well, I love looking at it, but I am safely and warmly inside my house with working power. Thank goodness.

It's cold and windy out today so we didn't want to have the babies outside for a long time. We basically got their hats and jackets on, put the bumbos out on the porch, put the babies in the bumbos and furiously snapped as many pictures as we could. Then we rushed the babies back inside where it was warm. I don't think they loved the experience, but we love these pictures. :)

 Can you tell how much fun William is having?

 

Stokes

William

Ryan

 

Later on I took the babies back out on the back porch for a few "selfies". Thomas has been busy working and answering emails all day and I just felt like I needed a few more snow pictures before it all melts or turns to ice.

William

Ryan

Stokes

Smiling while preparing to go outside :)