Mother's Day

It's been a lovely weekend. Matts brother Andrew and partner Jackie came up (from Borehamwood) and down (from Glasgow) to see us. The kids were excited to see them and even more so when it was revealed that they had brought presents!

We were very pleased to see them too as we had a couple of civilised evenings chatting to actual people in our house. The weather has been a less pleasant visitor as it is sticking with the cold and wet theme it's been following for a while now. It'd be very nice to have some sunny dry days.

Today was my first Mother's Day. I did sort of have a mother to be day last year (and little did we realise how quickly I'd be a mother!) but this was the first official one. The babies got me a card and two framed photos for my desk at work.

The card has a poem...

Thank you for wiping our bots
Thank you for loving us lots
Thank you for carrying us in your tummy
Thank you for being our mummy

Quite sophisticated for 11 month old babies!

I've had a few messages and a card from friends who know how important this day is to me. I used to be so sad on Mother's Day and now I get to see these little beauties!

No-one is a luckier, more grateful mummy than me.

Big fight weigh in - this time its personal

Its been a while but today the Health Visitor came today to poke and prod the babies, and most importantly to weigh them. The results are now in and are as follows:

Lex "Slugger" Cunnington:
Was 16lbs8, now weighs in at 20lbs1oz and has moved up to the 75th percentile. His head is between the 75th to 95th percentile

Charles "The Head" Cunnington
Charlie has got to 17lbs2oz, up from 14lbs10oz. This puts his body length 9th centile. All the food has gone to his head which is now on the 75th centile. He is the Mekon.

Elizabeth "Dinky Toy" Cunnington
Beth has shot up from 12lbs10 to 15lbs7 and joined Charlie on the 9th centile. She is in the 25th centile for length so is getting lanky.

The Health Visitor was happy with their motor skills, so they can now drive cars. 

The babies are all progressing well. Charlie has started to copy Lex and roll and roll and roll. Poor old Beth is now faced with two juggernaught of brothers who decide where they want to be and then roll there, regardless of who and what gets in their way. Beth has also upped her game and decided to become feral, she growls and attack peoples feet and ankles. She waits until you are looking the other way and then "bam" attaches her newly minted teeth into your feet. She especially likes mummy's slippers. I fear we have raised a zombie daughter.

The kids are all getting their own personalities now. Lex is very determined, Beth is a bit moody and Charlie just smiles at everything, especially his own farts which he finds most amusing. Daddy particularly likes this, when he has had a bad day or boring day at work he comes through the door he is always met with a beaming smile, usually from Beth and squawk of delight (sometimes that comes from mummy after a bad day). All the babies have become more interactive in play, they have discovered how to steal toys from each other. Lex has become incredibly proficent at this.

Every day they are getting a little more independent and a little more mobile, which has necessitated child proofing the house, basically we will turn the front room into one large play pen and the adults will move out :-)

Picture below shows Beth turning feral.

 

Perfection

When you have premature babies you have to attend regular check ups. Recently we went to the Children's hospital for eye tests. At 9am.

9am used to seem totally reasonable to me. Even a bit late to get out. However getting three babies up, dressed, fed and then to the hospital, then parked by 9am was a challenge - we began at 6am and even then we cut it very fine!

As usual we caused quite a stir by our very existence - amongst patients and staff. We were more concerned about how to get the buggy through the doors!

After much flashing of lights in babies eyes they were pronounced perfect. In fact we received a copy of the letter the consultant wrote to the GP and in it he said 'I have seen these triplets and am delighted to say that all six eyes appear to be seeing perfectly well and they all seem to be pointing in the right direction.' Good to know.

The Chatten family have visited again (see pic) and today my Uncle Myles (my dads brother) and Auntie Margaret came to visit. My mum was here so could show off her grandchildren. I think they made a good impression and it was lovely to see them.

We also met my friend Alex from work in the park and I got caught up on some work news. It's only a few weeks now until I return from seclusion back into the world. Is the world ready? Am I?

Pictures are:
Beth standing
The Chatten family and the babies
Charlie, Beth, Lex
Uncle Myles, Beth and Lex

They do this every day....

...and I just managed to get a photo.

My Dizzy Valentine

Another busy week - but then they all are in the baby zoo. We had another baby visiting - Florrie who is nearly 3 months old and in the same size clothes as Beth!

The babies seem to be trying to break me bit by bit. It's not just the lifting and carrying, which is getting harder and harder, but then Wednesday night I was holding Lex and Matt was just about to take him off me. Lex got all excited and wriggled - nutting me hard on the cheekbone! He was fine whereas my cheek throbbed for a few hours.

Anyway next day was Valentine's day and in a romantic frenzy we ate steak, had a glass or two of wine and were asleep by 10pm! We really know how to live!

Today (Sunday) I woke up feeling dizzy, sick and with my cheek throbbing again. I rang NHS direct just to check it wasn't anything bad and the triage person I spoke to went through some questions then said 'I'm finding it hard to figure out if you have a virus or a serious head injury!'

Oh good! A nurse rang back and again she struggled but in the end decided it was a virus - so Matt sent me back to bed. He'd been out late the night before so unfortunately missed his lie in.

I'm feeling a bit better now - still dizzy though so Matt's going to have the day off tomorrow to carry babies up and down stairs.

In other news they are all still cute and gorgeous (including daddy!).

Photos are:
Mummy and Beth
Mummy and Charlie
Mummy and Lex
Lex
Beth
Charlie (mummy's having a close up photo week)
Florrie

Big news (for us)

It is a big news week. Today we left the house and went shopping! Yes me, the babies and grandma went to the shops. I was far too excited. Probably not good I was driving then but we got there safely.

It is amazing the logistical challenges just getting out and about can bring. How do you put the babies in the car when you have three? If you take one out you have two alone in the house. Today, for example, I came back to get Lex and he'd been sick. Luckily grandma could deal with that but otherwise I'd have to lock Charlie in the car, deal with Lex then carry on.

Right outside the house was a group of school kids doing cycling proficiency. Including Jamie (auntie Teds son). They all watched as we pulled away. I have occasionally bunny hopped the van but luckily didn't this time.

Anyway next I think I'll try a trip to a park on my own with the triple buggy in the back of the car. Then we can step up to people's houses and baby groups.

Other big news is that Beth said 'Ma Ma' for the first time. It really meant loads to me as it was the first time anyone called me their mother. Just reminded me that the stress, expense and physical strain to have them was completely worth it.

Beth has also decided sitting up is the thing to do. She looks so grown up sat up whilst the boys roll around her.

Charlie is getting much better at rolling from his front to his back. He's still working on his words at 5am and I'm sure he said 'bye bye' a few days ago.

So now there is a competition on to see what Lex's first word will be. We have one 'Ma Ma' and one 'Da Da.' Any bets? Matt thinks his first words will be 'feed me' as he does Iove his food.

Photos are:
- What's missing in this picture of Lex?
- There it is!
- Beth just after saying 'Ma Ma'
- Grandma and sitting up Beth
- Lex wonders where his sandwich has gone
- There it is! (Charlie)
- Proof that we went to the shops. Lex is trying to escape from the buggy.

Woolly hats and baby pile ons

Well it's been a busy week with lots of visitors. I've felt a bit like a real person again!

Last Sunday Chrissy came to visit and bought some fabulous woolly hats for the babies (see pics below). Over lunch Charlie said 'Da da' to his Da Da and we all got something in our eye.

Monday night our new nanny, Izzy, came to talk contracts etc. It looks like this is all sorted now. I've spoken to two of her previous employers and they both described her in the same way; organised, great with the kids, reliable, sad to lose her. She's going to start settling in with the kids in March ready for April.

Tuesday Ted, Anna and baby Florrie came to visit - Ted even brought lunch! Florrie is nearly as long as Beth now and both have just come out of 0-3month clothes. Beth is 10 months and Florrie nearly 3 months.

Wednesday our lovely Homestart lady came. She's called Jo and comes every week to help me with the babies. It was well timed this week as Matt was away Tuesday night to very late Wednesday. Unfortunately his great Aunt Phillis died so he went to her funeral.

Ted came back Wednesday night to help me with baby bedtime. Erin and Jamie came down to play with the babies too - I think the babies couldn't quite believe the amount of fuss they got this week!

Thursday daddy was around so that was a great for the babies (and mummy!). They were so excited when they saw him. I'm pretty sure Charlie wee'd - he was shaking so much with excitement.

Friday I thought was a day alone with the babies but no....Jo and Chris came round at lunch time. They both had the babies giggling and smiling all the time. It was a lovely visit.

Honestly it's been lovely and I have really enjoyed having a social life. There may be more of this too as its now 6 months since Charlie came off oxygen. This means we can now mix with others. Hurrah!

Tonight I'm staying in with Matt having a games night and there may be wine. So cheers to that and also raise a glass to Phillis who was a lovely lady - tiny in stature but not in personality. Cheers!

Pictures are:
Beth, Charlie, Lex
Chrissy has a baby pile on
The babies in their hats
Jo, Chris and the babies
Chris has a baby pile on
Beth
Charlie
Lex - he chases (by rolling) that spinny thing across the floor all day