Monday 31 December 2012

New Year

“Making the decision to have a child – It’s momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” - Elizabeth Stone

So it's been a bit of a big year, one of those years you look back on and know your life changed from that date. Could be positive, going to Uni, or negative, losing my dad.

This year was the biggest of those life changes - and there's already been some biggies.

We learnt to live without sleep. To put three other people first in everything. To turn on the entertainment gene when every fibre in your body wants rest.

We inspired the most beautiful smiles, cleaned many bums, tickled tummys and sang far too many versions of 'Old MacDonalds Farm.'

We worried about tiny bodies hooked up to machines in hospital, worried about babies rolling across the floor, stressed about milk consumption and the regularity of poos.

We kissed soft cheeks, cradled sleepy babies and held tiny hands. We woke in the middle of the night (often) and drank hot drinks (rarely!). We've marvelled at how early different personalities develop.

It's been a privilege and the most exhausting year of my life - but worth every moment. Can't wait for 2013! It's such an adventure watching them grow. Love my beautiful babies and their daddy too. Happy New Year xxx






Thursday 27 December 2012

A trip to A&E for Boxing Day

Just after I'd posted the last blog Charlie woke up from his nap with a cough and wheezing. We rang NHS direct who got the out of hours GP to ring.

I just wanted to know when to panic. They said we should go to the Children's Hospital A&E 'reasonably soon.' That made me a little panicky!

Anyway luckily Matts mum is here so she helped Matt with the other two whilst I drove Charlie down to A&E.

We had to wait a bit to be seen so I got to do some people watching. One woman came in carrying a child of about 7. The kid had bare feet! This on a wet night in December. Maybe he refused shoes.

There were lots of coughing children so I kept the prams raincover on. We had been advised to ask for a separate waiting area but they didn't have any available.

Anyway Charlie drank a whole bottle of milk and had his first jar of food (rice pudding which he liked) so he wasnt off his food. We saw a nurse who checked his sats (oxygen saturation levels) which were 100% so that was good. Then after another hour we saw a doctor who checked his lungs, ears and throat.

She said he has a viral infection and to just keep an eye on him. She also said he was the smiliest baby she'd ever seen.

Today he's still a bit tired and slightly snotty but otherwise fine. Phew!




Wednesday 26 December 2012

Babies first Christmas

This is an excuse for cute pictures of the babies. We had a lovely day and I'm sure there will be more in the next week or so.



























Friday 14 December 2012

Catch up

It's been busy in the baby zoo hence the lack of posts. The babies are busy rolling around, becoming obsessed with their feet and making noises. Charlie makes sounds that might be words in another language. Lex squeals or makes a noise that sounds like he's straining on the loo. Beth is enjoying makes choking noises. We're so glad they are experimenting with different sounds...

Meanwhile mummy and daddy have been working out finances for mummy's return to work (there won't be any) and trying to sort childcare.

Turns out getting someone to look after three babies is both tricky and expensive. Who knew? Childminders can only have 3 kids between 1-4 so we'd be block booking them. There's not many who are totally free and if they are there might be a reason for that!

Another option is a nursery. We're on a waiting list for one up the road but they won't have spaces until July and I'm back at work in April. It's also the most expensive option but would get the kids mingling with other children which I do think is important.

Lastly there's a nanny. Great that they'd come to us but they don't really have to have any qualifications plus if they are ill you are a bit stuck. It would be the cheapest option for us though.

So that's taking a bit of work. No solution as yet. My ideal would be a nanny for most of the time then a nursery for an afternoon a week, building up as they get older. It might be a case of just taking what we can get, at least at first. Not really what you want to do with your precious babies.

Other than that both granny's have been visiting and we've been getting ready for Christmas. Should be a good one!

Pictures are:

Lex, Beth, Charlie
Beth, Charlie, Lex
Granny Cunnington helping feed the babies
Granny Cunnington after a day with the babies!








Saturday 24 November 2012

Immunisations, a new baby and a jumperoo

This week the babies had their 4 month immunisations. 'But aren't they 8 months old?' you ask. Why yes they are.

Not entirely sure who should have been keeping up with it but I just wondered last week when their next immunisations were due and looked in the red book to discover it was 4 months late!

Apparently the GP should have sent me a reminder. They didn't. The health visitor obviously didn't check, nor the hospital.

Fair enough the responsibility comes down to the parents - as well as the stress. Mum and I took them up on Monday for their jabs. It turned out to be 3 injections per baby. 9 in total.

What's the worst thing is that babies do this silent scream thing where it hurts so much they cannot even make a sound but their faces contort with pain. Then about 5 seconds later the noise hits and they cry.

My point being here that I'm sure it's really hard taking one baby but just imagine watching one baby scream 3 times then knowing you have 2 more to go. The tears were not just theirs!

Luckily mum came along because I wanted to just get it all done and could not wait for one baby to totally calm down before the next had theirs done. So it was handy to pass the baby a little calmed down onto her.

I've decided Daddy is coming next time. Lucky him!

It's worth mentioning though that for the first injection Beth just looked a bit confused, no tears at all until the second and third. She's hard that girl!

I was glad that it was over and it wasn't me getting stabbed with a needle though I'd have happily been stabbed instead. To be fair though I spent two IVFs and one pregnancy stabbing myself with needles so maybe I've done my share.

In other news we have a jumperoo - a contraption the babies can bounce in. The boys are a little confused - Charlie wonders why we put him in there, Lex likes playing with the toys but hasn't figured out he can bounce yet, Beth has and she would like to live in there.

I also got to see Auntie Anna's baby Florrie this week, a few days late but I had a cold and didn't want to pass on my lergy. She's gorgeous, has so much hair and I'm so thrilled for Anna and Bob. I showed the babies a picture of Anna holding Florrie and they were so excited. It's weird to think they have never seen anyone smaller than them. Thanks to the chocolate energy fairy there are plenty of people smaller than me at the moment!

Pictures below are just to show how totally gorgeous the babies are. Yes I am biased but that's my job.

Pictures are:
Lex
Beth in 'her' bouncer
Beth
Charlie

They are proper gorgeous though aren't they? Every day there is at least one time with each baby where I get a rush of joy at how lucky I am to know them. Parenthood is pretty bloody fabulous.








Saturday 17 November 2012

They might be giants

Today's post is all about the health visitors appointment yesterday and how my very existence is a reproach to others.

I'll start with that. I went to the doctors a few days ago to pick up a prescription for vitamins for the babies. Whilst there this woman said, 'Ohh I see you all the time walking around. I can't believe you get out!'

She had a baby with her. I said, 'well you have to get out and about don't you?' She said, 'I really don't know how you cope. I'm struggling with one. Makes me feel worse.'

Struggled for a response to that one!

Anyway the health visitor came yesterday and our babies are officially doing well.

Lex is now 16 pound 8 and up from the 25th to 50th percentile. She said we could drop a bottle a day for him and start on some water.

Charlie is 14 pound 10 and up from the 9th to 25th percentile.

Beth is 12 pound 10 and up from the 2nd to between the 2nd and 9th percentiles.

Explains why my back is killing me!

She doesn't want to see them again until January.

Our babies be giants!

Today is World Prematurity Day and I wanted to post these great weights today just as a contrast to their birth weights. Lex 2 pound 6. Charlie 2 pound 1. Beth 2 pound 3.

I'm on a triplet group on Facebook and am learning quite how lucky we are. Not everyone brings home 3 healthy babies. We are blessed. Am thinking of those that aren't today - and the staff that try so hard for all of us to take our babies home happy and healthy. X

Pics are:
Lex
Beth
Charlie







Sunday 11 November 2012

Baby round up

I thought it was time for another review of the babies.

Charlie
He just rolled over for the first time last night. He's a little later than the other two to do things but he's so vocal I do think he might be the first to talk - or at least to sing.

He still loves music and when the Charlie shouting is reaching a crescendo a round of 'the wheels on the bus' will produce happy smiles straight away.

You can tell when he is sleepy because his hands rise up to either side of his head. The higher they are the more tired he is.

He's just started sleeping through (thankfully!) so fingers crossed that continues. Two down and only one to go....

Lex
Lex is not keen on sleeping. He likes to be up, squealing and shouting. He does sound like he is having fun but we do wish it wasn't at 5.30am.

He's rolling everywhere at the moment - on the floor and trying to roll out of his bouncy chair. He is the most smiley of the three - pretty much always gives you a big grin.

He's still loving textures which makes dressing him hard as his hand clamps on any fabric (such as a sleeve) passing by his hand. Makes dressing him a bit of a wrestling match what with that and the rolling.

Beth
She's a real daddy's girl and just lights up when he comes home from work. She's still loving 'twinkle twinkle' and particularly the twinkly hand movement. She's obsessed with hands and will watch you clap for ages.

Beth either wants to be cuddled or wriggle on the floor. She's started crying when I leave the room and is a bit nervous of strangers. She's been rolling over for quite a while now and is very happy sitting in the highchair so I suppose sitting up is next.

She does this weird swimming movement when she's on the floor where she kicks off the floor with her feet and pushes upwards with her hands. It means she shoots backwards with some speed. She, as yet, has no idea that there may be obstacles behind her. She will find out I'm sure. I'm hoping we can put that off for as long as possible.

Ooh and she's just cutting her first tooth.

Photos are:
Charlie in his high chair
Charlie
Lex
Beth, Lex, Charlie
Charlie - note the hands. Quiz - Is he tired?
Beth
Beth
Lex and Charlie
Beth watching 'return of the Jedi' with daddy
Lex


Tuesday 6 November 2012

Things people say

I thought, for this post, I do one of my irregular 'things random people say' posts. It often surprises me when people comment as we walk by. It seems normal to me to have 3 babies but apparently it's rather unusual.

As always the most common statement is 'you've got your hands full!' A week or so ago I had walked to the co-op and was just heading back when I got my third random person say 'you've got your hands full!'

I feel like a famous person with a catchphrase sometimes. What do you say in response by the third time?

Well this time I tried 'do you know that's the third time someone has said that to me in the last ten minutes.' To which the response was 'well it must be so hard.' 'Well not most days.' I said.

'Well maybe it'll be ok when they are older.' She said.

'Its good now thanks.' I replied.

'I suppose you have to make do with what you have.' She said.

'Which one would you have me send back?' I asked (in a jokey way).

'Oh well you just have to cope.' She replied and went on her way.

Then the next day I was stopped in the street by an old lady who said, 'ooh are you the triplet mummy from Main Avenue?' I said that I was. 'Ooh you are so lucky,' she said, 'my husband and I tried for 18 years before my daughter was born. I was 42 when I had her.'

'Im 42 too.' I told her.

'Babies are such a blessing.' She said. I agreed and she went on her way.

I can tell you which conversation meant more to me.

Photos are:
Charlie and Lex discover the joy of hands
Charlie and Lex open presents from granny Cunnington
Charlie
Beth
Beth and Lex

Saturday 3 November 2012

Happy Birthday

Daddy's first birthday with the babies also coincided with his 40th which worked out quite nicely. I had a lovely day off to spend with Claire and the babies. Daddy was showered with presents and a little baby sick.

The weekend got even better. Grandma Cunnington came up and on the Saturday Claire had arranged a great surprise party. Lots of thanks for everyone who came especially the southerners John, Janet, Brett, Bonn and Cerys.

The babies even dressed for the occasion. Mummy especially liked this bit.

The babies sleep patterns have changed. Well Lex's. He has decided that he must now wake up at five am and he thinks that everyone else must get up as well. Mummy and Daddy are trying to persuade him to copy Beth who still sleeps all the way through.

The babies also dressed for Halloween. Again Mummy loved this bit. They only got one trick or treater so Mummy and Daddy had to eat all the sweets :-)

Wednesday 24 October 2012

Happy birthday daddy!

It's daddy's 40th birthday today and the babies were seven months old yesterday so it's a big week in the Cunnington zoo.

The babies are also practising synchronised rolling (see photo) and their parents have realised its time to baby proof the house!

They are also practising using spoons and holding their own drinks. They are trying to speak but it's just coming out as random mumbles - a bit like their parents really!


Pictures are:
synchronised rolling
Charlie
Bathing beauties
Daddy and Beth
Lex twice
Beth