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 :-)