1 plus 3 is 4 for me!

Now that the boys are a year old, I thought I would update by sharing the story of our conception and birth ~ how we went from a family of three, to a family of six.


Our story starts not with the boys, but long before that.    As a newly wed couple (and small family including Vi -8yrs at the time), we thought it would be great to wait a year before trying to conceive; get settled and all that jazz... So, in preparation I started taking prenatal vitamins, and switched my birth control so that I would get regulated again.   9 Years of Depo Provera made it so that I had not had a menstrual cycle in all that time.  Several months go by and still no cycle to speak of; so I make an appointment with the OB.  At this point we still weren't trying, we had only been married for a few months, but I just had a feeling things weren't going to be easy.  

She put me on the Nuva-ring birth control and Provera to bring flow on. Provera didn't work 3 out of 4 times. We experimented with various birth controls and such and had minor success; but she said I was mostly not ovulating at this point.  May comes around and it's time for us to actually start "trying" so no more birth control; and I continue to work with the OB.  We try this for 4 months, but with no period to speak of; we knew it was futile...  Introduce Clomid.  Several cycles go by and I feel like I have tried everything!  At this point I am:  Taking my temperature vaginally every morning at the same time, sticking my fingers routinely in private places to test cervical mucous and the position of my cervix, taking vitamins, charting, researching, collecting various lucky charms and idols and strange things to "help".  T has given his sample for testing and he is fine.  At one point I even tried taking something called Royal Jelly that is supposed to help with egg production... that gave me a severe allergic reaction!   Yes, my desperation was showing.


Everyone else around me was getting pregnant, people were asking when we were going to try and I felt such a feeling of failure that it was all consuming and overwhelming.  Didn't help that T was away for 28 days at a time, so we could only try every other cycle.   Even Vi was feeling some of the stress, she knew how much I wanted to have another child; and proved to be so mature and supportive; even wise beyond her years.

Finally T and I go in for an update with the OB and she says that she has confirmed that even with the highest dose of clomid; and via monitoring she can see plainly that I am just not producing eggs; and we are beyond her assistance.   On to the RE.   We go see the RE exactly one year after we started the clomid experiment.  He reviews my file and goes over our history; turns out I have PCOS by the way.  Horay for me!    There was some mention of the long time use of Depo without a break being a factor, but we couldn't say for sure.   This makes sense to me since I was never advised to take a break from the depo, so like 6 years straight probably did me in.      I don't know, but PCOS sure fits the bill.

So, RE suggests we go right to IVF... but T and I both have reservations about this, we were under the misconception that IVF increased the odds of Multiples, so we chose to do IUI and if that didn't work we would adopt.  On to injects and monitoring.   Because we live so far from the RE (who was in Mass, and we are northern Maine) I was able to do my labs and monitoring in Bangor, so only a 2.5 hr drive every other day!       During this time while we were doing IUIs , I had several failed cycles; either from too many follicles, not enough follicles, T being away, weather, cysts etc.   

We made several trips to Lexington over these two years; at least a hundred trips to Bangor.   Frozen samples so we won't miss out on opportunity to do a procedure.   Too many Ultrasounds to count, countless injections, internal exams and more.   What fun.   

May of 2010 we were able to conceive via a frozen sample IUI, but lost the pregnancy early on.  It hurt but we were able to pick up and move on quickly.  We had 2 more failed cycles and had decided that this was our last time; it was too emotional, I was falling apart.  So we chose to finish out this last cycle and move on.  We were told we had two mature follicles, and our chances were fair.  Fair = our sticky BFP!   Yay!!!   

3 days after the IUI I KNEW it was going ot work, I could just 'feel' it.   Not physically of course, but emotionally and mentally.   I just felt it.   Sure enough, I was pregnant.  Me.  Finally!
 

So, I started getting cramps around the beginning of September, not sure why.  Drs were slightly concerned it might be ectopic pregnancy, (though likely too early for symptoms of such) so they send me for an US… 4w5d.  I figured it would be too early to see anything, but the tech was a moron.  She couldn’t even find my ovary, and kept calling me pumpkin and asking me if I was sure I was pregnant.    *roll eyes.    She mentioned a pseudo sac, which can be a sign of ectopic apparently.  Anyway, a repeat scan was scheduled for only a few days later, so at 5w4d I had another ultrasound, at a bigger hospital, with a better technician.  And got the surprise of a lifetime.   

Triplets!   

 I at first thought twins, but then there was one more sac.  My Mum was with me and I kept saying “holy S***’ over and over and over lol.   No heartbeats were seen and they were measuring on time.

Went back for another scan exam 6w4d.  All babies were measuring spot on.   6w1, 6w1 and 6w2. And Saw 3 lil hearts beating away.  We were going to have triplets!  

I made this video to share our news: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvlFBgaR4u4

We never dreamed this would happen!  Of course we knew that multiples is a risk with any fertility assisted pregnancy, but we had tried to avoid this by doing IUI and not IVF!   OOPS!      Of course I learn afterward that IUI actually has a higher rate of multiples than I had known!   


The first few months of the pregnancy were the worst; being told of all the horrible things that can and likely will go wrong, our 'choices', and how horrible it will be.  Lovely right?     The whole pregnancy was scary, always on edge waiting for the ball to drop.   Too good to be true; everyone healthy against odds.   At 29 weeks I agreed to be admitted to the hospital "just in case" because we live so far away from the hospital, they felt more comfortable having me there.  Turns out that I did too!   It was amazing, the nurses were fabulous and it was a really great time in my life... I attribute that to being able to go so long in the pregnancy.  I even made friends with another patient down the hall and we are very close now.  T was back and forth, but by 32 weeks things weren't so great, I was frequently sick to my stomach, nauseous and vomiting; my feet were swollen hot and sore.   T had to help me roll over in bed and I would cry in excruciating pain.  I felt "good" overall, but the pain of having such a large belly was overwhelming at times.  I have no idea how women do it with more babies in there!!!     

At 34 weeks we were told we could deliver at 35, so we picked our date!  Yay!   April 1st it was!   I was scared and nervous and nauseous still.  Was great to have my mom and sister and T there; that sure did help a lot.   I kept asking for something for my nerves; to no avail.    We were wheeled into the surgery room and from there everything went so fast!    They did the spinal; and thankfully one of my favourite nurses Paula was there and comforted me through the whole thing.  Then they were testing me to see if I could feel anything and when I said no; they said good cause we've already started... I asked for T as they had Forgotten to bring him in!!   They brought him in and within minutes they were delivering the first baby.

Our boys were delivered on April Fools day, at 35 weeks Gestation. G at 12:32pm, F at 12:33 and H at 12:33.  they were 4.2, 5.8 and 5.3 lbs and healthy!  All great news!   H had a bit of a rough start with his respiratory; most of the first few days was a blur.     2 had 16 days stay in the hospital, and 1 had 26 days.   

Here we are one year later and it's been an amazing first year; I still can't believe they are mine and that our family is now complete.   The first year has been full of love and laughs, and of course some tears; But I wouldn't change a single thing.   I love how 1 + 3 is 4 for ME!

Wow! There ARE decent people out there!

Lately I have been feeling very down on myself, and it's likely from being home a lot; ok, not just a lot... ALL the time!   I hadn't left the house in almost 2 weeks except to get milk, leaving Vi to watch the babies for 10 min while I did so... not really an outing..   Then last night I had a bit of a melt down; and was brought back to sanity by a kind friend in Arizona, a single mom by choice with two beautiful babies the same age as the boys... a 'mom army' Mom!   

Anyway, I decided enough was enough, I was getting OUT of the house!  Since we were in desperate need of groceries and formula (only had about enough formula left for one bottle!) it wasn't really an option anymore.   My Mother in Law was going to help out but she had to go pick up her vehicle from the shop... No big deal, I got this right?   Or so I thought!

I loaded up the boys and the stroller and left for Calais... When I left home it was raining a little bit; but when I got there, it was pouring freezing rain, slushy and just nasty and the stroller *as always* was covered in crud from the road... so I would have had to take it off, load up the boys while they sat in the freezing rain, etc etc ...  not a good situation overall.   Discouraged;  I was just going to go home, but then remembered we REALLY needed formula; So I got back out of the van and (by this point I was welling up with tears overwhelmed again)...  when two ladies walked by and I called out to them, they seemed decent enough so I asked them to carry my children in to the store... I had no idea what I was going to do with them when I got there!  lol.    

In we go, these two kind women and me, and the boys...  we put Beef and Duke into shopping carts, and I had the Bjorn (always kept in the car) so I loaded Sonny boy ( the peanut) up on me... and after thanking the kind ladies profusely, off we went. I pushed one cart, pulled one cart and wore Sonny.   *My back is thanking me already!   oops.. forgot to splint!  :(


About 10 minutes and one full shopping cart later, out of nowhere my sweet nephew shows up at JUST the right time and offers to help me! Luckily (for me) he had a dentist appointment and was out of school early and was with him Mom (who works at the store).  Splendid!   He takes one cart and I push one and carry Sonny... and off we go!!   Sweet! 

Get my shopping done at Walmart and load it all up in the car, then off to Shop-n-save for groceries since mother hubbards cupboards were BARE!   In the grocers it's the same situation, Hayden pushing, me pushing and pulling Sonny since my back was spasming by then and I couldn't have carried him anymore!
Well, we hadn't hardly gone past the produce section when a lovely staff member shows up, comments on the boys and asks if I need any help... I say no I think we're ok, and she said, well I KNOW I would need help so I won't take no for an answer... She stuck with us the WHOLE time!  Up and down every aisle, and even at checkout and then loading up into the van!   I unfortunately didn't get her name, so I need to find out what it was as she really deserves a proper shout out.

Overall, it wasn't the best outing, but it was out; and my cupboards are full again.  It was the first time the boys had been out of the house in like 3 weeks, and almost 2 weeks for me; so I consider it a win!
  
Having said that; the next time, I'll wait and NOT go during a snow storm!!      

What triplets do to your body

Of the mind: 

I have always had some issues with body image.  Even during my slim 120 lb pre-mommy  days there was major anxiety of nudity.  I can't say that I recall any specific time in my life where something occurred to cause this anxiety; but I feel as if my husband (or anyone else) were to see me nude then they wouldn't respect me, want me etc. 

Now, in today's society you had better not even comment about your appearance, or everyone will tell you to be proud, heck you just had triplets right?    Sigh.  Yes.  Yes I did.  10 months ago.   TEN.  And all I see is a body that looks so saggy, heavy, rippling and so out of place it's nauseating.     I can easily tell OTHER people to be proud of their bodies, they bore beautiful children etc.  So why can't I see myself this way?  

I think *and have thought for some time* that I have a more deep seeded problem with it.  I have found some information online and maybe I am somewhat Gymnophobic?    Just the thought of T seeing me nude makes me sweaty, nauseous, scared and I just want to cry.

Gymnophobics experience anxiety from being nude, which may be manifested as rapid breathing, shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, feelings of dread and irregular heart beat. Different people feel anxiety in different ways.

see all those things listed above?   Yup, I feel them ALL. I get it when I see myself nude too!   This must be a problem right?    Of course it is!   Now what??


Of the Body

Before we got our miracle science babies, I was somewhat active, attending a local gym several days a week with my girlfriend and our personal trainer.  Walking, and just going here and there.  Of course I had down days, (battling infertility emotions and drugs will do that to you) and still had the fear listed above;  but my body was strong and I felt Good.    

During the pregnancy, I was very early limited on my activity, and then on bed rest at 24 weeks.  I could feel my body "melting" no energy, low muscle tone and general weakness.  Knowing this was all in the best interest for my babies, I was ok with it.  Even enjoyed it for a while!  

After the babies were born I remember laying in the recovery room, on my back and feeling empty, not emotionally, but physically!   I looked down at my mid-section only to see my mid seciton, sunken in, almost flat on the table, with a very defined round lump (uterus) protruding. Very cartoon like!

Shortly after having the babies I started to feel this shifting... in my middle, the organs moving back and re-assuming their rightful positions in my abdomen. It was a strange feeling... but nothing compared to what came next!!

Now we are about a week and a half post hospital discharge, the boys are 2 weeks old... and something strange happens!  I wake up one morning, roll to my side as I had become accustomed to, and then sat up-using more of my midsection than I had in a very long time... It was then a wave of uneasiness came over me and I thought I would faint.   I felt as if my "guts" were trying to come out, and there was this lump.   This went on and on and did not get better even as my body healed and started feeling stronger.  I always got this shifting feeling when I went from laying down to sitting or standing; and the thought that my guts would come pouring out onto the floor was ever present.  *yes I know they wouldn't have actually spilled out; but it really did FEEL that way. Gross right?   Just imagine how it looks!

please note this is not my stomach, I am not that brave!  But this is what it looks like when you look down.


How did this happen?
During my pregnancy, as with all women, the abdominal muscles separated. But what happens with a triplet pregnancy, (and often with twins and even with just singletons) is that the abdominal muscles get so stretched apart, that after babies they don't go back together.  This is called Diastasis Recti - mine is a hands width apart.

At about 32/33 weeks of pregnancy I started feeling like I was tearing from the inside out; I believe this was the connective tissues that would have helped bring those muscles back together.    Having been referred to a specialist, I know that it can be surgically corrected.   I have since learned there is a program you can follow that involves splinting, special exercises etc that can help fix this Diastasis.

Diastasis can cause back ache, leg pain, tiredness, and long term problems if left untreated or if you do not know how to manage from it.   You compensate for these issues and that puts wear on your body in other areas, which can cause lots of aches and pains.

The stretch marks and access skin are par for the course and I can live with those (*for now)  but the stomach falling forward and aches and pains and weakness I cannot!  This has been very limiting for me; making it hard to perform many daily tasks, including lifting and carrying my children, bending, playing and doing my daily household chores.  

Good new!!!   I have found something that proves to be very promising!   Diastasis Rehab in the form of the Tupler Technique!   I am ready!  I have splints, I have the program, I have support and I am ready!   Lets fix this thing so I can feel GOOD again!

www.diastasisrehab.com

         I will let you know how it goes!

Mom Army

I think I am one of the most fortunate Moms out there!  Among at least 183 other moms that is!

I have to say one of the things I am most thankful for is Facebook, and only because, while it's difficult to get out to socialize and there aren't any mom and me groups around here, I am able to have my own little mom and me group on the social network. 

Back when Tony and I decided it was time to start "trying" I started charting my cycles, discovered there were problems and started seeing the doctor.  A few months after that I joined a charting site (Fertility Friend; here forward referred to as FF) and discovered they offered forums and a chat room.  I never attended the forums but found comfort and company in the chat rooms; often spending HOURS at a time chatting with some of the most amazing women ever.  


During the "TTC" (Trying to Conceive) phase I spent so much time on FF I got to know some ladies particularly well:   The ones that were first and most fond in my early FF memories are Kirsie123, Shan, Fingers, Zee, Ninja, Poz, Kimmy, LadySprat, Aqua, Amerch, HollyPreemieMom, Jan; then later CJ, CheeseheadinPA, Lobs, Jules, susiewombat, Silver, Cat, MSK, Dani, Val, Ayla, HeyHey, SamFeilds and more!   I could go on and hope none of my special mom friends feel left out!

So, I spent hours talking to these women, pouring out my heart and deepest thoughts, wishes dreams and fears; and 'listened' while each did the same; forming bonds that will forever be strong and deeply cherished in my heart.

Most of my FFs have been successful in their journey, but there are still several who have not; my heart still hopes with all my being and my fingers are always crossed for them - always. 

While I was pregnant with the triplets, I experienced depression and separated myself from these ladies mostly, only staying in contact throughout with a few.  Some it was because it always seemed like a mompetetion of who felt what and who knew more, a competition I had no interest in participating in.  Others, I had to cut off to break old habits, and some because I felt immense guilt that here I was with 3 babies and they had none.  I will NEVER forget my journey as so many do, I do not take my children for granted.   The moms I did keep in close contact with, Nic, Kim and Holly (And when I say close contact, I mean we spoke often, almost daily); in teh case of Holly, we spoke every day, several times a day; and I really would have been lost without her guidance.  Her pregnancy ended in Tragedy with the early delivery and passing of her sweet baby Delanie Faye, and I have never wept so hard and felt so deeply for a friend as I did for Holly that day. 

These women have stolen my heart, and though I have only met 4 of them in person, I feel like I know each and every one of them as fully as if they were my neighbour. 

After the delivery of the boys I became an active member of the forums on FF and did not frequent the chat rooms, I no longer knew the people frequenting the chat rooms and it was if it was time to move on; besides, the time I used to spend on chatting, was now spent loving on Vi and my sweet baby boys.      I did feel a deep loss of this social event; sinking a little more deep into the lack-of-social-encounters funk I had found myself.   But the more I frequented the forums the more I felt like part of a group again.  I joined the Moms of Multiples group, and became fb friends with them, which led me to "triplet mommies' group on fb, another wonderful source of information, but I don't feel connected to those women.

It was becoming active in my May Due group on FF that saved me, I was absent during most of my pregnancy, but started participating more and more after the birth of the boys. A wonderful source of information in those early days...  The older the boys got though the more I felt there was a gap, it seemed the boys were significantly older than some of the babies so milestones etc were on a different stage.  I still love these women, sharing every part of my life with them and feel like these are my best friends; but felt that I wasn't able to contribute on the same scale and was on a different page with development at certain times.  The older they get the smaller the gap gets again, interestingly.    Anyway, during that time frame I was looking for information and came across the April ladies group on FF, after requesting to join their group I really feel like I just 'fit in' like I had been there all along.  They welocmed me with open arms, and open minds. 

Between my May Mommies and April Mommies groups on FB, and my close Chat friends that I am still in touch with, I feel like my life has been so enriched. I have learned from these ladies, so many things; not just about my babies, but about myself, about other cultures, different views, trials and tribulations.  I've laughed and cried, vented and listened. 

While I cherish my real life friends; they are not replaced, these women are in addition to, and who could ask for more?   I am really looking forward to all the coming years with my newest and closest friends, talking to them every day, maybe meeting some of them in person in the future.

I have 'friends' all over the world, and I KNOW we would band together for anything, I have witnessed this, the support and understanding is amazing.   I have come to refer to you as an Army of Moms.

So, to my Mom army... All 183+ of you.  Thank you.  I love you all!   

All talk and no action!

 All moms claim their baby is the cutest etc, but I lay claim to it x 3!! 

Going to write again very soon; but for now I just wanted to share some new photos of the boys!

I took the photos yesterday and my friend Rosanna edited them to balance the colours, brightness etc. I am very happy with the way they came out!

Cheers!

To be a MoM

So now onto general Mom of Multiples things.  I love my boys more than anything, and my daughter is so amazing; I am very proud of the way she helps me out around the house and with the babies.
T has been gone for a couple weeks now, and I don't mind being a 'single mom' when he's gone. As much as I do prefer when he is home of course it's not that bad; I appreciate that when he is home I am able to have a little more freedom to do other things, like grocery shopping, personal appointments etc and not have to have the extra time to do them.

People ask me all the time "how do you do it?" and that is an impossible question to answer in the time you know they would be truly interested in listening for, so I just say "you just do it". 

I have been glancing at a book recently called "What Mothers Do Especially When It Looks Like Nothing" by Naomi Stadlen.  and in the book it reads:   "How can anyone feel satisfied at the end of a day doing something as responsible as being a mother, without being able to explain to herself what she has done well? How can she discuss her day properly with other people if she can describe only her failures?"
This is so true, T calls at night and I always feel like I have nothing to say, because I know that even though I have been busy ALL day, the only things to really talk about are the negative things or the ones that reflect health matters or money.    Its so difficult to express yourself as a mom; T and MIL would never really understand that it's tiring to be a MOM.  Comments being made about being productive, or getting more done just hurt... because at the end of a long day I am exhausted and I can't explain to them why.

I can however explain it to you!   The day begins waking to chattering babies over the monitor, I love my new alarm clock!  So then I make 3 grueling trips up and down the stairs, carrying babies that takes almost all my energy as my body does NOT want to cooperate with me. (will explain more about that soon!) Then in between it's rushing to get formula ready, 3 different mixtures, one soy, one with rice and one just plain formula. Getting the right nipples and rings on each and not mixing them up.  Changing diapers and preparing those bottles.  Can't leave Sonny alone on the feeding area because he is such a squirmy worm I am afraid he would fall; so I get Beef and Pook changed and settled in and save sonny for last.  Ok, so we are now all settled on the bed and they are happily sucking away.  Only one of them need a lot of attention as he gets so distracted he is constantly losing the nipple from his mouth!  While they eat I fold the load of laundry I put in at bedtime and fight with Sonny to eat.   Burp: Burp: Burp: Clean up puke, and on with the show.   Time to settle in, I check my messages and brew a cup of joe; for a few minutes!

So now it's time to play!  usually 2 will sleep and one will play so this goes on for the next 3 hours, playing with one, 2 sleeping.  Oh, also during this time I wash bottles and mix up formula by the gallon, wake up vi, let the dog out and try to put a few things away or tidy up the kitchen.

Then, lo and behold ti's time to eat again!  and the routine starts all over, change diapers, wash faces, get dressed, heat up formula, get the magic mixtures just right, suck suck suck, burp burp burp, clean up puke and play.   Grab a lunch and try to spend a few minutes with Vi.   If I am lucky, someone might stop by this week for a visit.Would be nice to go for a walk, but I can't push the stroller without being in pain for 3 days afterward unless walking on a flat surface. Can't play in the yard because of red ants; so we rarely leave the house. 

Where was I?  Oh yes, this brings us to about 1pm now... sometimes this afternoon time I will bathe the boys, or try to get something organized like the cabinet, kitchen cupboards, the boys dresser etc. If they happen to all fall asleep I grab a quick shower OR I selfishly use this time to go on Facebook. (yeah I keep fb open all day and periodically pop in so it appears I am on all the time).   If they aren't sleeping, the afternoon is good for tummy time, playing on mats, in jumperoos etc.  but you have to rotate them and constantly flip the roller as he can't get back and gets mad.

Guess what... Time to eat again!   Those 3 hours between feedings just go by so fast!   Oh and I forgot to mention that I always do a load of laundry in between those feedings... so, change diapers, make bottles, feed, burp etc.   this brings us to about 4:30 adn Vi is asking whats for dinner...So boys go in their bouncy seats and get plunked in front of the TV for some baby einstein.  *please, spare me the lecture.  and off I go to the kitchen to whip up some mommy mealtime mastery in 30 min or less...  Vi and I sit down to eat have a conversation, a few giggles etc.    The boys seem to always know it's mommy down time though as it never fails that someone decides to be unhappy at that time! 

Now we have about an hour to just enjoy, so we do some floor time, playing with babies, stories, "exercises" etc.  This is very difficult for me as I try to get on the floor and play with all 3.. and I can barely move while I'm down there and it's hard to get back up!  This time is important too because I like to really play with them for about an hour before they eat for bed, so that I know they will sleep better.  Sometimes this is a fight to keep one awake. 

This brings us to about 7pm.  Guess what.  Time to start getting ready for bed!   If Tony is home, this is a great time for tandem bathing, but when I'm alone I stagger the baths through the day or do them all in the afternoon.  Anyway, off we go, one at a time to get a diaper change and pjs on.  Bottles get made, with their special PM mixutre that holds them over the night.. and away we go!  Suck suck suck, burp burp burp, clean up puke and were done.  (this take about 30 -45 minutes by the way because we're taking turns burping, and chasing bottles around)  Ahh, now it's time for the swaddling, a story and off to bed, trucking them up one at a time (or Vi helps bring them up).  Lullabies go on and voila, they are in bed.  

Now it's about 8:30-9 so I wash bottles and nipples and tidy up the kitchen. Throw in that load of laundry I will fold tomorrow morning, hang out with Vi for a bit, FB / blog / read forums and off to bed at 10.

So... Ask me what I did today and you will hear "Not much" or "the usual" and you may walk away thinking, she's got it easy, she doesn't have to go to work, or you might see my home and wonder "what did you do all day?"  now you know.

Oh, did I mention that in between all this I also let the dog in and out a hundred times, answered the phone, paid the bills, changed a pukey baby outfit, made my shopping list, got dressed, did a spreadsheet for pirate festival, returned 2 calls to vendors, sorted through my stock, read my business manual, researched products and organized my prizes (all business related), read my training manual, played 10 min of guitar(which I started doing again recently) and cleaned up the slobbery doggie puddles from the floor? 

So if you come in and there is a pile of laundry on the chair to be folded, don't wonder why I haven't folded them yet, think, wow, she's really on top of that laundry.   If the pots are on the stove from dinner, don't criticize me for not doing my dishes right away, think only , Hey, she had time to cook a home made dinner.   Because like that book said "How can anyone feel satisfied at the end of a day doing something as responsible as being a mother, without being able to explain to herself what she has done well? How can she discuss her day properly with other people if she can describe only her failures?"   Really does sum it up I guess


So... what did I do today?   "The usual"

and it was GREAT. 

Updates on the boys and "just do it"

So it's been a while since I posted last!   Lots has been going on, and we are pushing on down the track.  Vi has been enjoying her summer break, she went off to equestrian camp and had a really great time; and was surprised at how much she missed her brothers while she was gone!

The boys are sleeping through the night, and have been for a while now!   Our new schedule has them eating at or around 7-8 and then 11-11:30, 3:30, 7:30 and then in bed around 8:30, 9.   And yes, they sleep ALL night and you don't hear a peep.   *of course, now that I have said it aloud, and written it down, I am DOOMED because I swear they are living only to prove me wrong at every turn!

We had our 4 month check ups, and Beef is 18.1lbs, Pook is 16.13 and Mr. H (now called Sonny) is 16.  Sonny boy is the one to keep my eye on!  He has started Rolling now and enjoys getting his feet up on his brothers' heads, spinning around and rolling over onto his tummy and getting angry because he can't get back.    Pook;,is he such a gentle soul, who smells of canned cream of mushroom soup all the time. Why does formula smell oh so badly?   The poor thing doesn't get as much attention as the others and people just don't want to hold him as much because there is a 98% chance that you will leave also smelling of cream of mushroom soup.      I recently bought a can of soy formula to start self experimenting on him with various types to see if anything helps, it had seemed to be working well; noting a significant decrease in the spitting up, but then it all went horribly wrong!   I made a fatal mistake in formula switching; and went WAY too fast.  :(   My poor baby got constipated and was in so much pain this morning.  I was able to help him pass it by massaging his tummy and pressing his legs up to his abdomen.  When he passed it, it was a doozie and made his poor bum bleed.  I feel/felt so bad that I caused him this pain for my selfishness of not wanting to deal with the puke anymore.   And this is what motherhood is all about.  Joy and guilt.  I will be going off the soy and back to the norm, puke or not.

At the check up, they found that Pooks head circumference had grown 4 cm from last check, so he is going for a scan of his head; this is to see if there is any hydrocephalus going on (fluid surrounding his brain).   I don't feel overly concerned of this matter, due to his head shape, I think it could just be a miss-measurement; but would definitely be happier to be safe than sorry!  That appointment is scheduled for the 26th of Aug.  The same day T comes home.

and for Beef; he is HUGE, so huge in fact that at 4.5 months of age (3 months and 1 week corrected) he requires 6-9 or 9 months sized clothing!   I call him my Great big beefy beautiful boy, and he really is.  Such a flirt, he laughs and squeals and gurgles to get attention and of course it works every time!

So that about covers it, Will post again soon as I feel like I have lots to say today!