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Atchoo Bless you! 

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Three sick little ladies, one sick moma and a teething boy make for one yucky house. Coughs and colds are the curse of winter. It only takes one of us to catch something before we all start coughing and spluttering. 

Naturally my biggest concern is my two month old babies who are not well. When a tiny baby starts getting the snuffles all hell can break loose. At the moment it’s all in their head area and hopefully won’t reach their chests. 

They’re not feeding too well and we have had a few projectile vomits. I had never seen anything like it before. It is like a horror movie!! It shoots out of their mouth and nose. Poor things as it gives them a real fright. Yesterday, in order to keep vomiting at a minimum, it’s been little and often. A tricky feat with three but determined to keep them out of hospital with dehydration. 

My once aversion to others snot is a thing of the past after having children. You find yourself cleaning noses on a constant basis. I have also got my new best friend – a nasal aspirator (snot sucker)! Brilliant invention for small babies who use their nose to breath. There are two types (who knew!). One with a bulb at the end that you squeeze to suck the snot out bs another which requires you sucking the snot out. Now I love my children very much but the thought of sucking snot out with my mouth is just going too far! 

Humidifier is another great purchase this winter! I’m nearly tempted to have one for every room but that might be extreme mothering! 

So I’m sure this is the first of many colds, coughs and splutters. Each winter brings something and babies are like magnets to all germs. As long as we can all stay home and no visits to the hospital. 

This is not a race, its a marathon…

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Its one of those classic cliches that is used many different occasions. ‘Don’t run yourself into the ground’ is another.  But no one can prepare you for how overwhelming triplets and a toddler can be.  The last weekend was my first real test and I like to think I coped okay.  Just don’t think any further than a day ahead!!!

My wonderful family situation works like clockwork…….. As long as everything and everyone is okay, its a pretty smooth operation but any hiccup and oh sweet jesus!

So the week was always going to be tricky.  My minder was away and i had arranged a patchwork of helpers for the week.  I thought i was doing great, all problems solved until Saturday morning and all let loose again.  Weekends are the hardest part of the week for me.  I am generally on my own with all four children both mornings.  Feeding the girls takes about 2 hours so coupled with my son this can be quite a stressful time.

My mum had agreed to take my son for the night and I knew that he’d have a ball.  I was looking forward to some quality time with my ladies.  By lunchtime I noticed that Francesca was struggling to breath.  At about 4pm she had started to pant.  Straight away I knew this was not good.  Her temperature was fine, she was alert and was feeding well but the breathing was now very labored.  Your maternal instinct kicks in.  Brought her to the hospital where she was admitted with Bronchilitis.  Apparently this is very common at this time of year but obviously dangerous when baby is under 7 weeks old.  The doctors were being over cautious but i was happier with that than going home and something serious happened!

So, single mum of four required an army of help!  I have to say sleep depravation was the worst because it meant I wasn’t thinking straight.  I had a lot of great offers to step in but I really wasn’t able to focus.  As result of our night in A&E I was a bit of basket case.  Post pregnancy my health has not been 100%.  I have struggled with high blood pressure, migraines, swollen gums, etc etc.  I am in need of a good dose of multi vitamins and iron! As the title of this post goes…. this is not a race, its a marathon.

I have recently started trying to spend one on one time with each of my kids.  This is actually quite time consuming but wonderful.  Each has their own personality and ways.  Its great when I get to know them individually.  Its also really important that my son knows i haven’t disappeared on him.  He is like a different child when we hang out on our own.  Although the girls are very young, already they are full of personality and need one on one time.  Having help around me has allowed this alone time, I am lucky to have it but would have it no other way.  When my son doesn’t get this attention he acts out.  He has occasionally hit and bitten me.  All classic signs of wanting you.  I try not to make too big an issue of it and am just very firm about not allowing it.  We have a time out step in the house.  He has had to sit there on a couple of occasions.  Usually for a minute to let him calm down.  Once the minute is up, he quickly says sorry and gets back to playing.  Its turned out to be really effective and I am conscious of not over using it.  Children like to test boundaries every once and a while but I’m consistent.

Its a juggle parenting four with plenty to keep you busy!  My next challenge is to structure my week better.  Just like babies, I thrive on routine.

 

Juggling!!

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Okay so now I get it.  I have been waiting all week for this madness that people expect with one toddler and three newborn babies.  Now I get it!  Saturdays and Sundays might just be my nightmare days.  I have planned for all eventualities but Saturday and Sunday mornings are just not going to be too smooth.  I have great help and support for the week.  The girls are on a great schedule, my son is in creche and I have extra help in the house.  All of this happens Monday to Friday.  By Saturday it all changes.

This morning it was just me and my four little goonies.  Rise and shine its 6am!  First breakfast for my son, get a wash on, get him changed and dressed, clean up the kitchen, empty the dishwasher.  Now this is nothing new!  Except from now on, on top of this there are three new mouths to feed.  So bottles to be sterilized, more nappies to be changed and two more hours of feeding.  Also playing lego, building train tracks, making pillow forts and driving cars all over the room.

I remember back to when my son was born and how calm it all was.  This lovely bundle of joy snuggling in my arms!  And how I never felt like I had a minute, how even boiling a kettle or having a shower was an achievement.  Now I am running a marathon!  While playing with my son down on all fours, I was also juggling at least one baby in a hope to get the wind up.  Feeding is now done with great speed and finesse.  With my boy, I have a stop watch – 20 minutes on each breast.  Burping was a leisurely pass time.  They say it changes with y0ur second  – this is so true and the third and the fourth!

So now I get it!

Home Sweet Home

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My three little ladies have arrived home and now our ‘normal’ can begin!

Our house is now full of muslin squares, blankets, baby grows, nappies, bottles and wipes.  There is a lot of paraphernalia when you have three babies but i am loving the chaos.  As someone who generally loves order this chaos could send me into a tail spin but god bless those love hormones.  It just doesn’t matter at the moment.  The most important thing is how all four children are doing.

Thankfully all are doing great.

My little boy headed off in his red dragon costume this morning, the girls have been fed and I have just had a cup of coffee.

Its the simple things.

Now that they are born I so much feel more human and have energy again.  That was a bloody tough pregnancy so it is great to be able to run up the stairs, jump out of a chair and run after my boy.  Christmas is only around the corner and I definitely think by then I will be ready to step out that door with my heels on, hair down and make up done. (Not yet though!!!!! – jelly belly from three babies and the hair doesn’t usually see a hairdryer these days)

Few tips that have helped me:

Feeding chart! – brilliant as long as you stick to writing everything down.  This includes times, amount and nappy changes.

Downsize! – Make one room your new home (for the moment) – we are literally living in the kitchen/play room.  The girls are in a cot, the changing station is here, their clothes are in a basket in the corner and the kitchen allows feeding of all! This allows us to live quite easily and no one is left on their own.

Swaddle! – premature babies are difficult to wind and are more used to being inside you.  There isn’t much room in your belly so like are used to being tucked up and cosy.  They tire easily and need a lot of sleep so wrap them up, put them down and let them sleep!  Don’t keep picking them up as tempting as it is.

Get help! – there is no point in being a martyr.  You will not receive any gold medals for doing it on your own.  All you get is absolutely exhausted!  I am feeling pretty calm these days because I have help.  Help is offered and I have learnt to accept it.  You need to find time for yourself, for your toddler and for your triplets – that is not possible without help!

While they are this size, life is pretty calm.  In no time we will be dealing with rollers and crawlers.  I am going to enjoy this phase first.

Somethings have an unexpected way….

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My three beautiful ladies have arrived. All got here safe and sound approximately two weeks before expected and are the absolute apple of my eye!! I know most new mums who have other children can relate – the worry is always how will I be able to love them as much as my little boy. I shouldn’t have worried! It was immediate. Even in the incubator with tubes and masks they were beautiful and perfect. They were born at 32 weeks and very small so it’s been a slow progress over the last two weeks. Two of the girls will home this weekend, while one little girl is taking her time and will be home when she’s ready. 

My contractions started early. I started to feel Braxton Hicks for a few days. The were getting stronger and stronger. I knew my doctors appointment was only a day or two away so I waited to see. The last thing you want to do is land in too early to the hospital. The morning of my 32 week appointment I dropped my boy the crèche. Driving and lifting a 16 month I’m sure are on the ‘don’t do’ list!! By the time I got to the doctor I was having fairly strong contractions every 10 minutes but they were a bit all over the place. Still hadn’t said anything and sitting with doctor and my mother who were having a full conversation about very little. I waited patiently and then told him I was contracting and it wasn’t just Braxton Hicks. At which point he stood up and guided me to the door. ‘Right we will admit now and you will probably deliver this afternoon then.’ 

‘What?!’ My mother was not prepared!!!! She had broken her foot and cracked her ribs only two weeks previously – another story!!!

By 2pm I was dressing into the gown and socks. By 4pm I was in the delivery room getting prepped. By 5pm my girls were coming! 5.04pm Stella arrived, 5.05pm Francesca and then 5.06pm it’s a girl! Abigail arrived. 

All perfect!

I finally got see and touch them at midnight. Was such a long wait and I was aching to see them. It was a very strange experience being in a room without your baby but all three had to stay in ICU to get strong. So far they have been thriving. They get stronger every day and feeding is going well. 

This time I’m bottle feeding. As a mum of four under two I have to be practical. It wasn’t an easy decision but a necessary one. But I am flabbergasted at some nurses nerve! Less than 24 hours after delivery one of the ICU nurses approached me about how important it was and how I really should be giving my children a better chance. Now I’m a strong person but in that moment I was very vulnerable and she made me feel terrible. I was very hormonal and cried all day. They have no right to do that to someone when you’re seeing your girls in a very vulnerable state and not able to hold them. Myself and my doctor had discussed my options it was none of her business. Funny how many do ask you though. I have had a number of people approach me and ask. 

The same people also love to ask about conception. Eh none of your business!!! Do I ask you about your sex life?!

Anyway, so here we are! Soon we will all be home. The girls need to reach 35 weeks, gaining weight and feeding on bottles. I’m very proud of them as they soon graduate ICU and the real fun begins! 

I have a walker!!!

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So my delicious, cleaver boy has started taking his first steps. What an honour it is to be there when they so this! I feel so lucky to have seen it as I know some mums don’t. 

At the moment it’s a bit like a game and he plays ‘ready, steady, go’ before collapsing into your arms or bumping to the ground. Such fun – he knows this is something amazing and his face lights up!  Short video below taken last night. Excuse the ill fitted clothing!!! Poor child is growing so fast!!! Heading out this evening to pick up some bits!!!

Week 20 of triplet pregnancy

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This week my new nanny started and I feel a bit lost! I get such a kick out of spending time with my son and the fact I can’t at the moment is breaking my heart! I have another 13/14 weeks to go and it can’t go fast enough. I am really looking forward to being able to play chase, get down on the ground and play with his toys, carry him upstairs without running out of breadth! It’s the simple things in life!

However, despite how I feel about it – she is the Mary Poppins of modern day and I am blessed! She is a lovely girl and I know we will all get on great. My son seems to have taken a shine to her already – so I have no doubt that this will be very successful. When you have to sacrifice time with your son so that you can rest it is reassuring to know he is in safe hands.

But children are amazing at expressing themselves and this morning I noticed a lot of whining. He only does this with me – which made me realise that actually this is his way of expressing his annoyance at the lack of time we are spending together. This, I am sure, is a talent that will only perfect even more over time. As he gets older I have no doubt that this is one habit he won’t grow out of.
Had a wonderful moment yesterday when he walked for the first time – oh what a joy! It’s such a monumental step in a child’s progression and to be honoured with the first time he did it is such a gift. At 13 months this is still quite young so don’t expect any marathons to be run anytime soon.
Had a doctor’s appointment this week and all is going great. They babies are each measuring well and they estimate the weight at nearly a pound per baby – which is wonderful! Still struggling with ferocious tiredness and would love a burst of energy but that is minor when I think about the miracle of my three little ones. We discussed the due date again and now he is saying it will definitely be before 34 weeks. I’m happy to have a date in mind now and hopefully it will fly in. Have another 4-6 weeks in work and then I’m off with my feet firmly in the air. I generally like to keep busy but at the moment a couch and some pillows under my feet sounds like a lovely idea!