Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

As you probably guessed from the title, my birthday just happened. It was the Saturday at the end of the week that started with Father's Day, which created what I like to call the Week-O-Steve, or Steveapalooza. I think it was a pretty good week, mostly because I got to spend it with all of my adorable children. For those of you who are curious, things are going pretty well. Taking care of triplets is very much like taking care of just one baby, but with alot of repetition. Right now the challenge is to get all three of them to stay on the same schedule. They are currently pretty close, but they occasionally get messed up, and that usually occurs between midnight and 7:00 am. Like I said, we are working on it.


I am guessing that you are curious what I did to celebrate the final day of Steveapalooza, my (ahem) 25th birthday. Well, last year I decided that because I am not terribly fond of the whole getting older thing, that I wanted to do something meaningful on the anniversary of my birth. So, for the second year in a row, we prepared dinner at the Ronald McDonald House. We made a delicious chicken dinner that was completely devoured and much appreciated. The trips were a hit too. So there you go, Stevapalooza is over and I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did.


oh yeah, pictures. Here you go. . .

Emily spent most of her time playing in the large play room that is conveniently located off the kitchen. Papa Jerry happened to be in town for the weekend and was able to come be part of the crew for the first time. His job was to keep track of Emily.



Meghan and Lizzie sleep away in their stroller. This was their first time taking their double stroller for a spin.



Charlie slept away in his stroller too...he also has a double stroller...he gets to share with big sister Emily.



Emily made sure to say hello to a very special friend of hers. She also gave Ronald a hello hug & kiss.



Emily also sat on Ronald's lap while Daddy got the trips ready for their photo op.



Emily loves Ronald and will talk about Ronald as soon as she learns of where we are going.



For Daddy's birthday, the kids worked on a special art project. Emily painted one pink hand print on Daddy's pocket...



...and the babies left behind a few footprints.



We went outside to visit Joseph's brick.



Emily was showing everyone her brother's brick...she would point to it and say, "Joseph's brick."



Emily had a lot of fun running through the garden, along the brick path.



While we were cleaning up and getting packed to leave, Emily was watching Tom & Jerry on YouTube with 2 other little girls.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Best Father's Day Ever!!

When last we were all here, we were discussing bringing Meghan home from the hospital. This of course left only one baby in the hospital, Charlie. I realize that I have now gone a whole week leaving you all wondering what has been going on. I do apologize about that, and I would like to make a deal with all of you. If you remember when we were in the hospital with Joseph, I blogged nearly everyday, good news and bad. That did take a toll on me, I am willing to admit that now. After Joseph, I did maintain the blog fairly regularly for a short time delivering the goods on the comings and goings of our original star Emily. Sadly, I lost touch with all of you and the muse to keep things going. Clearly with the Trips, the muse has returned, and I am blogging again. So, here is the aforementioned deal, I will try to blog at least once a week, and you promise not to hate me for not blogging. In addition, some of my blogs will be a short blurb and a bunch of pictures. So there you go, give it some thought and get back to me.

So back to our story. . .

Saturday, Meghan came home, and Charlie was left all alone at the hospital. Christa, Emily & I had two babies at home, and Lizzie no longer had her own room. The first night with Meghan and Lizzie wasn't that bad. Emily was very excited, and both Meghan & Lizzie had a pretty good night and Christa & I were able to tag team pretty well. All of this was made a little easier by the fact that Emily left to spend the evening at Grandma Kathy's house.

So the big news, that you have either heard by now, or figured it out. . . CHARLIE CAME HOME ON FATHER'S DAY!!!!!! That's right, on Father's Day I got the best present ever, all three of my babies came home. The girls were very happy to have their brother home, and so were Christa & I. I will admit that the first night was very rough, three babies, three completely different schedules. I did enjoy the opportunity to cuddle all four of my kids on Father's Day, and now the games will begin.

So, there you have it, all the babies are home and Christa & I are now on a completely sleep free schedule. For those of you who might be interested, here are some pictures. . .


Charlie all packed up in his car seat, ready to go.

Charlie gets escorted out of the hospital by one of the NICU nurses.


Emily makes sure that her little brother is comfortable in the seat next to her.


All of the babies are back at the house now...having a little car seat convention in the living room.


All snuggled up in their Pack 'N Play. Meghan in yellow, Charlie in blue, Lizzie in pink (the babies are color coded).


Meghan and Charlie spend most of their time snuggling face to face. Meghan will sometimes use Charlie's head as a binky.


Emily checks out Meghan's toes.


Papa Choo Choo holds Lizzie.


Great Ray holds Charlie...


...and then gets piled on by all three babies.


You can't come to our house without Emily requesting that you read her a "booky."


While Meghan and Charlie are usually face to face, Lizzie and Charlie are often in the same pose.


Mama Choo Choo holds Lizzie.


Meghan gives her brother a little smooch.


Emily tries desperately to peel this VERY LARGE orange that Auntie Mandy brought for lunch.


Daddy was setting up his massage table to do a practice massage. Emily decided that she wanted to try out the table.


"Emi did it, Mommy! Watch me!"


Emily decided that Charlie should have a toy to play with, so she lended him her pink mouse.


Charlie gives me a wink as I catch a picture of him snuggling with his sisters. He's such a "Chick Magnet"...it doesn't matter how far apart we put the 3 of them...they always wiggle their way back to each other to cuddle.


Even Lizzie gets her face up in her brother's space like Meghan.



This video is titled, "Charlie Can't Take It Anymore."

The video run time is 27 seconds. This is a moment when I caught Charlie desperately trying to get his sisters off of him. Poor Charlie...he just can't deny his charm.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Another BIG Day!


So, little Lizzie has been home for a couple of days, and she is doing very well. Emily has become an excellent big sister and does quite a bit to help out with Lizzie. It has been a bit of an adjustment getting back into the swing of getting up in the middle of the night for feedings again. I imagine that Lizzie has been enjoying having her own room, a situation that is going to change.

If you recall, before Lizzie checked out of the hospital she gave a little pep talk to her brother and sister. Meghan took that pep talk to heart and knew that she couldn't leave until her NG tube was removed. It must have seemed to her that the nurses weren't ever going to take it out, so on Thursday morning, she did it herself! She continued eating well so they decided to leave it out. All signs pointed to Meghan coming home soon, she passed her car seat test, she was eating, pooping, and doing everything she needed to do. To be honest we expected to take her home on Friday, but that didn't happen.

I admit we were a little disappointed, but then we got the call on Saturday afternoon, Meghan was ready to come home! Christa and I jumped in the car with Emily and off we went. Meghan was waiting for us, and Charlie had some good news for us too, his NG tube was out, though he let the nurses do it. We gave Charlie a little pep talk and put Meghan in her car seat and we were on our way. When we got home Lizzie was very happy to see Meghan and they spent the rest of the evening asking, "When's Charlie coming home," "Where's Charlie, Daddy?" "Hey Daddy, when are we getting Charlie?" It was driving me a little crazy, hopefully we will have that answer soon.


Until then, here are some pictures. . .(the opening picture is Emily holding Lizzie for the first time.)



Daddy & Lizzie take a much needed nap.


Emily is fascinated by her little sister's hands and feet. They are sooo small!


Look!!! Meghan with no NG tube!!
Yay, Meghan!!! You'll be coming home soon too, sweetheart!



Charlie, just keep eating well and you'll get your NG tube removed too!




Grandma Kathy (or Mama Taffy, in Emily speak) reads the girls a book,
while Emily holds Lizzie's hand


Look, Charlie with no NG tube!!!!!!
You're almost there, little man!


Meghan sleeping peacefully before being changed and packed up to come home.



All dressed and waiting for Daddy to get her car seat ready.



Meghan, all packed up in her car seat, is finally ready to come home!



Walking out of the hospital, with one of the NICU nurses escorting Meghan.



In Daddy's car for her first car ride, Meghan was sleeping away.



Big sister, Emily, checks on her little sister...to make sure that she's comfy for the ride home.



Daddy snuggling his 2 littlest girls.


Emily gets a close-up look at Meghan.



Emily & Meghan lying side by side on Emily's cozy "giraffe blanket."


Meghan & Lizzie....together again.


Mommy hugs her 2 littlest girls.
It's so good to have you 2 home...now we just need Charlie.