If you make it through everything I have to say, we have video! (Or you can just skip right past all the words and go straight to the pictures/videos. 🙂 )

It’s been a challenging week here in the Cline house. After a surprisingly relaxed weekend where Jason, Ron (my father-in-law) and I were masters of the universe, I woke up on Monday with a stomach virus. Unfortunately, Jason had it, too. Ron and Megan were able to hold down the fort all day on Monday but late in the day we learned that our night nanny, Corrie, was sick as well. That’s sad, sad news on any day in this household and even worse news when Jason and I are sick.

So it’s been a week of loooooong nights for all of us. Right now it can easily take 2+ hours to feed all three babies which is fine when there’s more than one of us and we’re wide eyed but very, very tough when it’s one of us and it’s the middle of the night. Fortunately, our weekend relief, Sally, will be here tonight and, most important, none of the babies got sick. It was also exceptionally lucky for us that Ron changed his plans to stay through the week or we’d have really been in trouble!

On Wednesday, Megan and I took the babies to the doctor and it was the first time out with all 3 since the boys came home. We did it!! And the babies are growing!

Steven: 5lbs 14oz
Samuel: 6lbs 3oz
Amaya: 6lbs 8oz

Amazing!!! That’s still the 0 percentile for newborns their age but ranges from the 25th- 50th percentile for preemies. (The newborn scale is what they’re measured against for development. The preemie scale is just for fun reference.)

In other news, after a lot of thought, too much guilt, and even more tears, I’ve decided to stop expressing milk for the babies and, with that, the limited nursing I’m doing. It was a horribly tough decision until I made it and now I know it was right. To maintain my supply, I have to spend 4- 5 hours/day pumping. That’s an awful lot of time I could spend with my babies (or sleeping or SHOWERING)! It’s difficult enough as it is to feel like I’m giving each baby enough individual attention. When I go back to work the time will be even more valuable.

I’m glad I provided milk while I did, particularly because it is proven to reduce the incidence of certain preemie-prone illnesses but now it’s time for me to spend that time loving on Steven, Samuel and Amaya directly. They’re pretty irresistible. See?

Bath day! (2/28/14)

Amaya

Samuel

Steven

Grandpa with Steven, Samuel and Amaya

Our first outing! Visiting the doctor on 2/26/14. (In order, Samuel, Steven and Amaya.)

Plus some video!!

Steven eating on 2/25/14 (with Megan)

Samuel eating on 2/27/14 (with Megan)

Amaya eating on 2/28/14 (with Grandma Sunshine – she’s back!)

Jason and I love these babies so much.

Steven, Amaya and Samuel

Samuel, Amaya and Steven

Steven, Amaya and Samuel

Steven

Samuel

Amaya

Two photos of Steven trying to eat Amaya’s head.

Mommy and babies! This weekend we’ll finally get a photo of Jason with the trio.

Grandma Sunshine with the wonder babies

With all of the babies home, we’re in the process of establishing a routine.

There are 24 different feedings every day, about 30 diaper changes, 8 times I have to pump, tons of bottle prep (48/day because they’re 1/2 breast milk and half formula) and I’m still working to breastfeed as often as possible which is not nearly as often as I’d like. That doesn’t account for everything else that happens in a normal day. It’s a LOT and I can’t believe there are moms who do this triplet thing on their own. They’re super women. I always considered myself pretty strong but, honestly, I’m pretty sure it would break me to do this without help.

Fortunately, I have help. My sister came out this past weekend to join my mom for her last weekend here after 4 weeks in MI. Now my mother-in-law is here helping, to be followed by my father-in-law. And then we have Megan here all day, which is invaluable. Nights are rough (I hate them) but night help starts Wednesday night so hopefully that makes a big difference.

Of course Jason is going to get the dad and husband of the year award. He’s so engaged and sweet and tender with the babies. He works (obviously?) so he’s not on an official night shift but he does feedings between 8:30pm and 11pm so I can sleep and is the cavalry if multiple babies need to eat at once. (It happens and it’s frustrating right now but is what we’ll want eventually when the babies are mature enough for one person to feed two at once.) Jason is also unfazed and emotionally stable which helps keep me together in the more difficult moments.

Hopefully it goes without saying, though, that all of the work is worth it for these precious little wonder babies. I can’t wait to see them grow and watch who they become!

Here are some recent photos!

We ordered these great bassinets to use when the babies are downstairs with us.

Aunt Sara in her first photo op with all three babies. In order, Steven, Samuel and Amaya.

Nana in her first photo op with all three babies.

A sample of how we schedule feedings for the night. (Soon to be replaced by our night nannies! Whoohoo!!)

Jason, Amaya, Sally and I welcomed Steven and Samuel home last night! 23 days old and all of our babies are HOME with us!!

I learned I was pregnant with triplets on 7/30 and it’s hard to believe our babies are finally all under our roof. They’re incredible.

It was a grueling night and, again, I’m grateful for my mother’s help. By the time we were all settled it was 11:30pm so my mom stayed up to do the 12:45am round of feedings. Those ended around 3am. I was up from 2:30am – 6:30am for feedings (with Jason) and pumping so my mom took the next round of feedings and was back up at 6:45am to help out so Jason and I could both get some sleep. Hopefully it’s easier when we have overnight nanny help starting next Wednesday. I don’t want time to pass too quickly but I’m really looking forward to the help. It’s going to be invaluable – particularly once Jason and I can’t count on a 3rd person to help us through the night.

All of the babies have had their first pediatrician appointments. Amaya went yesterday and the boys went today. The only place they’ll visit between now and the end of April is the doctor’s office but it’s good to know I can get out with them. We’ll also have home health care visits at least once/week to make sure the babies are all growing and gaining weight appropriately. MUCH better than trying to venture out with all 3 during this weather and the cold/flu/rsv/whooping cough season!

We’ve also started tummy time! I didn’t realize it starts this early but apparently it does. Somehow we need to schedule tummy time 4 times/day starting now. We also need to find time to start scheduling bi-weekly baths. Hopefully we crack that nut tomorrow. It really doesn’t seem like there are enough hours in the day for everything we need to get done even with Megan’s expert help and all of my mom’s efforts. Over time we’ll figure it out.

Steven leaving the hospital

Samuel leaving the hospital

Good bye nicu!

All the babies lined up in our car

Amaya’s first tummy time

Not so happy with it any longer

Steven’s first tummy time. (Samuel’s was at the doctor’s office and we don’t have a photo but that kid has strong neck muscles already!)

Buried in bottles!

The big news is that Amaya was discharged from the hospital yesterday! Three weeks old and our 4lb 11oz little girl is home with us. It’s amazing.

After all of that time on round the clock monitors and 24/7 nursing care, it’s a little nerve wracking to see her on her own in her crib so it was a fairly sleepless night last night. I’m still nervous on night 2 but leaps and bounds better than where I was yesterday.

Even though her care is round the clock for us at home vs. the hospital, it’s so much better having her here. Of course, first thing this morning we all packed up and went back to the nicu to see her brothers who will hopefully be following her home soon. Their big hurdle is their car seat test. Like Amaya, they both failed the first time. Samuel was just borderline but Steven had a more difficult time. It’s entirely possible that, after tomorrow’s test, we bring home one boy while another stays to continue growing. Fingers crossed that they can come home together, whenever that is.

Because the kids were born so early, Steven & Samuel couldn’t have a traditional Jewish circumcision at 8 days. I wasn’t exactly sure how to handle the whole thing because any rabbi or mohel would need their flu shot and tdap but the amazing doctors and staff at St. Joe’s solved the conundrum for us. Their CIO used to be the head of pediatrics and has done thousands of circumcisions. He’s also Jewish, has performed traditional brit milah ceremonies in the past and generously gave me his time so I could have a traditional ceremony.

The boys were brave and so was I. I was in there by myself but it was the real deal and very special for me. I’m so grateful that everyone at St. Joe’s went above and beyond to do this for our family.

In other big news, our awesome nanny, Megan, started this week! Megan has the most important job in the world – taking care of Steven, Samuel and Amaya when I go back to work (and helping my mom take care of all four of us right now)! You can meet Megan in a photo down below.

Amaya and I have an important conversation before coming home.

Prepping Amaya

Getting all snug in her car seat.

Staying warm with a blanket handmade by Grandma Sunshine.

Off we go!

Bonus! Megan bonds with Steven!

On Sunday, February 2nd, Jason and I did a newborn photoshoot at the hospital. I wanted to get some photos when the babies were still very close to their birth weights.

Here’s our trio! (And I’m sure it goes without saying but please don’t share these photos anywhere else.)

Steven

Samuel

Amaya

From bottom to top, and left to right: Samuel, Amaya and Steven!

Samuel, Steven and Amaya

Samuel, Steven and Amaya

And a bonus! Cousins Nancy and Abe made these wonderful onesies for their new cousins. We staged a photo shoot today before the babies start to outgrow preemie clothes! (Grandma Sunshine – I left the hats at home so we’ll try for another complete photo shoot soon!)

My little things are hard to wrangle!

Steven, Samuel and Amaya

Love to everyone!

Our babies are growing!! As of last night, 2/6, here are some weights:

Steven: 4lbs 2oz
Samuel: 4lbs 4.5oz
Amaya: 4lbs 6.5oz

Amaya is leading the pack both with weight and with feeding. She’s now on ad lib feeds which means she can eat any time she wants as long as she doesn’t go over 4 hrs and she can eat as much or as little as she wants in a feeding as long as she’s eating enough in a 12 hr period. Even her n/g tube was removed and I fed her without any of her monitor leads! At this point, we’re hoping Amaya will be home between Sunday and Tuesday with her brothers not far behind.

We’ve been fortunate to have lots of visitors since the babies were born, with more on the way!

Sherry (Grandma Sunshine) was already with us when the babies were born because she was staying with us to help me out. (And I really did need help. Sherry slept on a glider in my bedroom so she could literally help me out of bed when I needed to use the bathroom. Mother-in-law jackpot!!)

My mom (Nana) flew in virtually the minute we knew I was delivering and has been here since, providing me absolutely invaluable help – everything from making me breakfast in the morning to cleaning my pump parts to cooking us dinner every night. I can’t imagine the past few weeks without her.

The aunts have been out to visit, too! The babies got to meet Aunt Sara and Aunt Alysia the first weekend they were born and they were here together which was very special. Aunt Sara flew in from NY and Aunt Alysia drove in from Washington, DC. Papa Gene’s been out from NY to visit his grandchildren and Great Aunt Annette also stopped by to meet the trio.

Right at this moment, my grandmother is here in Michigan meeting her seventh, eighth and ninth great grandchildren!

Steven, Samuel and Amaya are surrounded by LOVE.

Now for some pictures.

These are from today and include FOUR generations of family. Amazing.

In order, Steven, Samuel and Amaya.

I don’t have one of Samuel because he’s a little more in control of his hats but here are 2 new ones of Steven and Amaya enjoying their headwear.

It’s me! I’m shrinking! I still have a way to go to my pre-pregnancy size but it’s nice to feel comfortable in my space again.

It’s amazing how much happens in one day in the life of a baby in the nicu. Here are some highlights. (If you’re just here for the photos, scroll down to the bottom. 🙂 )

• First of all, I started this update on Wednesday and now it’s Saturday. I can’t believe how difficult it is to find time to do anything besides feed babies, pump milk for their bottles and sneak in food and sleep when I can. A sample of my schedule is below and you’ll see it’s non-stop.

• The babies are all in open air cribs instead of isolettes! They moved out of the isolettes on Tuesday morning, 1/28. (Well, it might have been Monday but, as I mentioned, time is a funny thing for me right now.) The threshold for the move is their ability to maintain a body temperature between 36.5 and 37.5 degrees celsius.

• We’ve moved from the intensive care side of the nicu to the special care side! This means that the babies are basically feeders and growers. Aside from the obvious, another benefit is that the parent bathroom is on this side of the nicu. When you’re here every day for 8 hrs, it’s the simple things that make you happy.

• We’re starting bottles! To go home, the babies need to be able to take all of their feeds from a bottle (and breast). Once they’re able to transfer milk via breast feeding, we start on bottles. Amaya started first followed by Samuel. Steven seems to know he’s going to be fed one way or another (via nasal cannula) and is resisting any form of feeding that takes work. Amaya is leading the pack often taking full feedings via bottle or breast. She’s doing so well that she may be able to come home NEXT WEEK! (Once she’s home, I’ll be able to take her back with me every day so I can manage feedings for all three and not have to worry about splitting time between one baby at home and two in the nicu.)

• My day is fairly straight forward but absolutely exhausting. Below is a sample of my day. I’m starting to work with the nicu nurses to help with one of the feedings for each cycle since I know I’ll have help when they’re home and, frankly, I don’t think I can keep up this pace without losing my mind. We also put together a great schedule that helps me ensure each baby gets the same amount of breastfeeding time with me each day.

Toby Ziegler said it and it’s true: Babies come with hats. (And some are crocheted by Grandma Sunshine.) Here are a whole bunch of photos of the kiddos, mostly featuring their variety of hats.

The first three are Amaya including a great photo with Jason wearing a hat crocheted by Grandma Sunshine.

Three photos of Samuel including 2 in a hat of the wrong colors.

Four photos of Steven. The final one is a good representation of the look I get when I want him to eat any way other than from his ng tube.

Today we put all of the babies in hospital hats so we can take their scent home to Sally. In order – Steven, Samuel and Amaya.

January 30th – the first time I picked the babies up instead of having a nicu nurse hand them to me. In order – Amaya, Samuel and Steven.

Jason feeding Amaya.

Holding Samuel and Amaya.