Life With Triplets

One of Many Attempts at a Family Photo

2006-12-26T17:55:00.000-05:00

Our Christmas Day Celebration

2006-12-26T17:53:00.000-05:00

Having Fun Outside

2006-12-24T10:51:00.000-05:00

Birthday Bath

2006-12-10T21:52:00.000-05:00

This is the first time we bathed them all together at the same time.... they seemed to enjoy it :)

1 N Counting

2006-12-10T21:41:00.000-05:00

Packed and Ready for a Trip--Ready Set Go

2006-05-07T21:08:00.000-04:00

Ethan And Faith Hanging Out

2006-05-07T21:06:00.000-04:00

Faith and Hope Eating Sweet Potatoe from the spoon

2006-05-07T21:02:00.000-04:00

First Sabbath we went to Church with the babies

2006-05-07T21:01:00.000-04:00

Aunt Clara And Nathalie with Faith

2006-05-07T20:59:00.000-04:00

Auntie Joy gets set to take Ethan for a walk

2006-04-10T18:30:00.000-04:00

Faith Stylin'

2006-04-10T18:28:00.000-04:00

Hope Reading a Book

2006-04-08T17:30:00.000-04:00

Big Al and Small Al

2006-02-26T22:46:00.000-05:00

Ethan's middle name is Allen.

The Elliott Men in their Sweat Suits

2006-02-26T22:43:00.000-05:00

Auntie Sonja and Uncle Clem with the babies

2006-02-26T22:38:00.000-05:00

The Norfolk Deluxe

2006-02-26T22:34:00.000-05:00

Getting around with 3 babies at once can be quite challenging. What we were doing when getting the babies to and from their doctor’s appointment was just carrying them in their car seats. Our other options was to get 1 double and 1 single stroller. Option number 2 was to get 1 double stroller and then carry baby number 3 in a sling, and then when the babies got bigger where the sling was uncomfortable we would get a single stroller. Option number 3 was to special order a triple stroller. With this option one person could handle all 3 babies. We went with the attention grabbing option number 3—the Norfolk deluxe. It is only 8 inches longer than a double stroller. But get this it weighs 37 lbs by it self, talk about a work out. Since we got the stroller, we have taken Faith, Hope and Ethan for walks around the park and around our neighborhood. It is really convenient, heavy, but convenient.

The Bobby

2006-02-26T22:10:00.000-05:00

One of the joys of having three babies at one time is trying to figure out how to feed three babies at once, because for the most part they all get hungry at about the same time. Our solution was to get “The boppy”. One month ago I didn’t know what this was, but I praise the person who invented it. We got 2 bobbies, so that one person could feed 2 babies at once, while the other adult feeds baby number 3. This has cut down on feeding time drastically, and an added bonus the adults can get more time for sleep between feedings. And that can never be a bad thing. Here’s a picture of David feeding Faith and Hope at the same time at about 1AM in the morning. He is a feeding pro now.

Clinic Visit

2006-02-26T21:52:00.000-05:00

Our last visit was on February 15, 2006 to get a Synagis shot for the triplets. This shot they will have to get once a month until April to protect them from RSV—which can cause many complications in a preemie baby. Everyone cried upon receiving their shots, but by far my “Mister Man” was the loudest. Ethan’s cry was so loud that he scared the girls into crying more.

Our next clinic visit is on March 16, 2006 for their next Synagis shot.

New weights as of 2/15/06: Faith--5lbs 10 ounces. Hope—6lbs 6 ounces. Ethan 6lbs 12 ounces.

Weights

2006-02-10T21:34:00.000-05:00

Faith 4 pounds 14 oz is just about knocking on 5 pounds door

2006-02-10T21:31:00.000-05:00

Hope At 5 pounds 9 oz, I'm right behind u little brother

2006-02-10T21:14:00.000-05:00

Ethan My doctor says I weigh 6 pounds 1 oz

Together Again

2006-01-29T11:14:00.000-05:00

Updates Galore

2006-01-29T11:09:00.000-05:00

My Mom came 2 days early thanks to an anonymous friend who we will call “Simo”--Seinfield lovers will get this joke, from the episode with the gossiping rabi. She did some mathamatics and came to the conclusion that 2 adults + 3 babies = mad house. So she changed my Mom’s airplane ticket to come up earlier. What a blessing!!! Thanks anonymous friend “Simo”.

Ethan came home on 1/26/06 (Thursday). This was actually 2 days earlier than expected, which was great!!! And then the next day we went to the doctor’s office. This time David, my Mom and I went with all three kids. Faith weighed 4lbs 0.6 ounces (which is almost double her birth weight. She was 2lbs 1 ounce at birth). Hope weighed in at 4lbs 10.8 ounces. And Ethan (my “Mister Man”) weighed—get ready weighed 5lbs 1.6 ounces. Their pediatrician was very pleased with their progress and stated that she wished all her premature babies looked as well as they did. I think she was just saying that to be pleasant, but it sounded good to hear anyway. So our next doctor’s appointment will be for their 2 month check up where they will get their first set of immunization—3 shots each—another sleepless night to look forward to. By the way if anyone wants to come by and help with feedings feel free to stop by anytime you want. I guarantee it that no matter what time you show up someone will be ready to feed.

We are really blessed for all the prayers and well wishes that were spoken on behalf of our babies. They only spent 6-7 weeks in the hospital when normally babies born at 7 months can spend about 4-5 months in the hospital. Praise God!!!

Breaking News: Faith just picked her head up and turn it all on her. Technically since they are premature they have 2 ages their gestational age and their birth age. So today they are 36/40 weeks gestation so really she shouldn’t be doing this for another 8 weeks when she would be officially 1 month old. I know too much details. What an overachiever Miss Hope is. I wonder where she gets that from—David says her Auntie Joy.

Faith Home At Last

2006-01-29T09:59:00.000-05:00

Auntie Jewell with Hope

2006-01-29T09:58:00.000-05:00

First Doctor's Appointment

2006-01-20T17:43:00.000-05:00

So today Faith and Hope had their first doctor's appointment at 1:00PM for which we started preparing for from 11:00 AM (to be early of course, but making it right at 1PM.) Thank God reinforcement was present--Auntie Jewell, because David had a busy day at work and could not make it. We had to get them in and out of car seats, in and out of clothing. It was a hectic morning. I could not imagine doing that with out Jewell present. The doctor was pleased with their progress. Ethan was not with us, because sadly he did not come home on Thursday. On Thursday morning he decreased his heart rate and needed to restart his 7 day count down on the highway to home all over again, so the earliest he will be able to come home is next week Friday--if all goes well.

Weights: Ethan is 4lbs 9 ounces. Hope is 4lbs 1 ounce while Faith is 3lbs 9 ounces.

Exciting Day

2006-01-17T22:03:00.000-05:00

Today was a very exciting day.

First weights--Ethan weighs 4lbs 5 ounces. Hope weighs 3lbs 15 ounces while Faith weighs 3lbs 6 ounces.

Today was Hope's homecoming. YEAH!!! She enjoyed the ride home. So far everything at home is going well. We have had 2 feedings, 3 diaper changes, several burp and farting--by Hope of course.

Faith and Ethan also had an excitement filled day. Faith is doing well in her crib. And Ethan had his circumcision today--yikes. They said he tolerated the procedure well and sucked on his pacifier for the entire time.

Hope Comes Home

2006-01-17T18:14:00.000-05:00

Weights for January 16, 2006

2006-01-16T09:17:00.000-05:00

Ethan weighs 4lbs 4.1 ounces. Hope weighs 3lbs 14.1 ounces. Faith weighs 3lbs 3.8 ounces.

Surprise

2006-01-15T18:13:00.000-05:00

Imagine my surprise today, when David and I went to visit the babies the Nurse first asked us if we have car seats already because the babies will be coming home soon. Then she continued and said that Hope would be coming home on Tuesday and that Ethan has started his count down home--he is on day 4/7. (In my mind I am thinking count down, what count down, no one told me of a count down. Was I supposed to be counting?) And that Faith would probably be home sometime early next week if she continues to gain weight on a regular basis. (But their not 5lbs as yet you may say.) Well, that was before. Now they just need to have accomplished 5 things in order to come home. 1. No A's (Apnea--decrease respiration rate)--check. 2. No B's (Bradycardia--decrease heart rate)--check 3. Eat all milk my bottle--check. 4. Be able to regulate their own temperature--check 5. Sleep in a crib--check (well everyone except Faith). So after the nurse had that conversation with us I started thinking but wait my mom doesn't come in until next week Wednesday. The babies can't come home until then because I don't know what to do. My maternal instinct is still premature. I haven't reached my five steps as yet:). I was also thinking that David and I need to finish the nursery and yes buy car seats. I tried calling Clara to convince her that her baby sister needed help and that she needed to catch the next flight from TX to NC. I am not sure if she bought it. So then after we visited with the babies we went to the stores and started picking up stuff. At the check out the cashier asked cautiously how many babies are these things for. 3 we replied. "WOW!!! 3 BABIES" she said. Expressions we will become very familiar with.

Buy needless to say we were very happy of today's news.

Weights

2006-01-15T18:05:00.000-05:00

Ethan 4lbs 3.7 ounces. Hope 3lbs 13.5 ounces. Faith 3lbs 3.5 ounces.

Feeding Frenzy

2006-01-14T12:31:00.000-05:00

Really, I probroably should say lack of feeding frenzy. If anyone has any tips on how to feed triplets I sure could use it. For example, last night I was 0/2 in the feeding department. I started with Hope. She started well, then no matter what I did she wouldn't eat anymore. I tried all the tips (tickle chin, move bottle nipple around, play with feet) no dice. And.... then... the nurse took over and she eat the rest. So I moved on to Ethan. He also started well. He was really sucking it down. I burbed him and gave him some more. Suddenly, he spit up( it looked like all he just ate to me) Anyway, I let Kathy finish the last bit and he ate it with no problem. Maybe, I just need more practice. :)
de

January 14, 2006

2006-01-14T09:29:00.000-05:00

Today Ethan weighs 4lbs 3 ounces. Hope weighs 3lbs 13 ounces and Faith weighs 3lbs 2 ounces.

January 13, 2006

2006-01-14T09:14:00.000-05:00

Everyone passed their hearing test today.

January 13, 2006

2006-01-14T09:12:00.000-05:00

Hope weighs 3lbs 12 ounces and Faith weighs 3lbs 1 ounce.

January 13, 2006

2006-01-14T09:08:00.000-05:00

Ethan is 4lbs 1.5 ounces. He had another milestone on the highway to home--he is now in a crib. Yeah!!!