The past year has brought so many wonderful changes into our lives.
We have gone from a family of 4 to a family of 7!! What a change that has been.
The "girls" will be 14 weeks old on Saturday. I still can't believe that time has gone so fast. It has been sometimes trying, extremely exhausting, but the best 3 and a half months of our entire life.
These girls have brought so many wonderful things and people into our lives. Our families both Joe and mine have become so much closer through out the past year. We have gained a new appreciation of just how much our family means to us. We could not have done this without them. Truly!
Our friends and family have been there to lend us emotional support when we were struggling and we thank all of you for how wonderfully accepting you were when we told all of you "our way" of having a baby. I know it took some of you a while to completely grasp the entire idea but most of you did and became wholly involved in supporting us emotionally. It's funny you learn through hardships and successes both who your real friends are. There are people that were acquaintances that have now become like family. Friends that we thought were supportive for their own reasons showed us their true colors during the last few months. Funny how some people genuinely are happy and love to see others happy and will share that with you but there are always a few people in your life that genuinely negative, unhappy and jealous. It was a hard lesson for me to learn because I naturally want to believe everyone means well. All in all though this experience was a wonderful one.
Brittni and Colin for also accepting these new siblings into their life with open arms. Over and over you both show us what great kiddo's you both are. I still can't believe I can say I have 5 children when asked. Colin thinks it makes me sound really old. Funny boy!
Brittni was home for Christmas vacation and stayed with us. I don't remember the last time I had so much fun doing nothing really. That girl is a crack up!!! She had me in hysterics the whole time. She helped me with the girls, we kicked Joe out of the bedroom since we all know how well he gets up at night (I love you anyways Joe) and had a slumber party that just didn't end! Brittni doesn't deal well with vomiting and
poopy diapers and before the week was over I think she got christened by both of them.
Colin went back and forth between his dads and our house. He made out for Christmas getting a new laptop from his grandma and grandpa. He was so excited and it was almost impossible to pull him away. We finally had to lay down some ground rules. I am so thankful that his dad and I have a great understanding of how important it is that we do everything in Colin's best interest. He is a fantastic guy and dad to Colin. He is getting married and I am so happy for him and his fiance' Jen. They are expecting a surprise sometime this summer. Colin will have his hands full with 4 new siblings in one year!!! Congratulations Todd and Jen we wish you both so much happiness!
As all of you know and are probably tired of hearing me harp on the subject of RSV, but, we are full fledged into the season now and we have resumed (we were a little relaxed over the holidays) our strict no sick people around the babies. Thank you for not getting too annoyed with us. We just want to keep them home healthy from the hospital. We won't have the RSV vaccinations for the girls after this month because it is too expensive. They cost $2750. per child per month through our insurance, We pay at least half of that and more because it is a new year and we have to meet our deductibles,, so yes I am going to become a lunatic about germs again!!!
We had a great Christmas. We didn't do anything spectacular but it felt like it with all the excitement of the girls being here with us. My nephew Aiden was born 5 weeks before the girls and it was his first Christmas also. My sister Kari and my niece Karisa were home from California for almost two weeks. Uncle Rick and Aunt Linda flew in from Arizona and spent time with us. It was two weeks with non-stop family time, it really doesn't get any better than that for us.
We had so much time to reflect on the amazing miracle we have been given this year. We are blessed to be surrounded by so much love and happiness. I can't imagine the next couple years when the girls are completely mobile at Christmas.
Updates on the girls..........
Elizabeth Jacilyn Coseno - also goes by Ellie, Pippa( from daddy), chunky monkey (lovingly nicknamed by her brother), cutie patutie (Brittni), cheeks.
Hopefully she will recognize her own real name someday.
Ellie weighs 11lbs. 2oz. She is 22" long last time they measured.
She has reflux but not as bad as her sisters. We have to put rice cereal in her bottle to help and it really works for her. It also has made her get so many little rolls!! They also are eating baby food, also suppose to help them from vomiting all the time. She smiled and cooed for the first time together today. Adorable!! Right now she is laying on my chest sleeping. Her cheeks all squished up against me. She has outgrown all her newborn clothes and is in 3 months. I am not sure for how long though as fast as she is growing. She, like her sisters is still eating every 3 hours around the clock. I hope this changes very soon. I have to remember they are only a few weeks old if I use adjusted age. She has gotten allot calmer, but still lets us hear it when she is not happy! She wants to look at everything now and has just started grabbing at toys on her floor mobile. She can push herself up chest off the floor during belly time. She tries to roll over but hasn't been successful. We just moved them a week ago to their room at night. Ellie is the best at sleeping in her bed through the night. I think it's because she doesn't spit up as much.
Carmina Ann Coseno also goes by Mina, Meaners (Colin's nickname was Beaners so he gave her this one), Ci Ci., and of course pickle lovingly given by the nurses in the NICU because she was the pickle stuck in the middle.
She is our tiny little girl weighing in at 7lb. 14oz. 20" long.
Carmina still stays awake through the day longer than the other two. She loves to be held all the time especially at night she wants to sleep on my chest. I love it, Joe says I am spoiling her rotten. Gabriella and her were born with a type of club foot that is treatable. They say it is from being squished in utero. We took her to a specialist and he says one day it might just go away or we may have to cast her at 6 months. I would love input from others that have had the same issue with their baby. I definitely am going to get another opinion. She is still layed back but definitely has a little fiery side too. She has wavy hair and it gets really curly after her bath. I hope their new hair has curls because this is falling out and the new hair is coming in. She is such a copy cat, everything Ellie does she copies. Really, everything. I use the baby sling all the time with her. We cook together, clean together, she really like me to hold her all the time. She is smiling, but not cooing yet.
Gabriella Claire Coseno also called Gabbers or Gabs by Colin, I call her Kermit because she makes the cutest smile and looks just like Kermit. Everyone always calls her Gabriella it just fits her girly, girl personality.
She weights 8 lbs. 14 oz. 20" long
Gabriella is the most laid back. She rarely gets upset enough to cry. She is patient about waiting to eat or be held. She just started smiling and cooing together also today. We tried to get it on video but she got distracted by the camera every time. She sleeps the best of all the girls and sleeps through their fussing. She loves to sleep in her swing that Gramma Claire bought the girls last time she was here. Her feet are almost completely normal the doctor says he doesn't think she will need treatment at all. She loves her bath the most of all the girls. She tries to drink the water obsessively and cries when I get her out of the tub. She of all the girls loves music. She listens intently when she hears it and it seems to make her very happy. She just has this incredible sweetness about her.
We are enjoying learning all their personalities.
For the very first time since they were born I slept 9 hours in a row on Monday night. Joe took the girls to the family room downstairs and sent me to bed. He woke me up at 9 am. I felt like a new person. I am so grateful for the sleep it was badly needed. Before that 4 hours at a time was the most I had.
I wish you all could see me now though. It isn't a pretty picture!!! The triplets have definitely taken a toll on my appearance and mental state at times. I have an inch of gray hair at my roots, I did not realize I had so much. I have not had time to get it colored I am hoping tomorrow to take care of it with an hour in the bathroom and a bottle of color. Maybe I'll even slip into a nice hot bath. I have worn workout gear everyday since they have been home. Me, the girl who loves to dress up, makeup everyday, has not even put makeup on in the last two weeks. I tried my jeans on and no lie it isn't a pretty sight. I am committed to wearing jeans every day since the elastic obviously is tricking me into thinking I can munch all day without consequence. I just can't wait til spring when I can push the "bus" stroller and we can walk several times every day. I find myself putting cereal away in the fridge, dirty dishes in the cupboard, using the wrong words in my sentence and not remembering what I was saying all the time.
I think I forgot the truly horrible part of having a newborn. Sleep deprivation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just keep praying that they sleep all night soon!!! I can honestly say there is no way I could work and have newborn triplets. I feel so blessed to be able to stay home with them right now.
Taking care of triplets is the hardest thing I have ever done. I underestimated how hard it would be. I will be the first to admit that I was wrong. I said numerous times that my house wouldn't look a mess sometimes, I would still get everything done like before because how hard could it be right???? Ha!!!!!!!!!!!! I was a darn fool. I love the girls more than I ever knew I could but they are allot of work and very demanding of my time. I definitely forgot how much time a newborn takes. The best things in life don't come easy and isn't that our truth right now.
I am going to make their baby food this weekend. My family is coming over to watch the girls so I can make enough to freeze for two months. I have been told how cost saving and easy it is. I am very passionate about using organic foods for them and am also trying to learn everything I can about living a "greener"lifestyle. Ideas and baby food recipes would be appreciated.
I know I haven't been good about the blogging lately but it's just so hard to fit it in. When I do find time I reread what I wrote and it sounds ridiculous later. I usually just erase it and say forget it. As they get a little older it will get easier, maybe!
Oh and we ordered Christmas cards they came in late, the last day you could mail things out to get them out in time for Christmas and they are still sitting on my desk. Hmmm..... So please just cut off the Christmas part and put the picture up when you all get them for Easter!! JK!!!!! I will try to get them out in the next two weeks!
Gabriella, Carmina and Ellie hanging out with each other. Carmina kept pinching her sisters. Really!!!!!!
Gabriella, Carmina and Ellie hanging out with each other. Carmina kept pinching her sisters. Really!!!!!!
