Triplet Princes and a Princess

Triplet Princes and a Princess

Our journey to hearing with Cormac while living our life with triplet boys and a baby girl.







Friday, February 26, 2010

The Happiest Baby on the Planet



Through it all, (Hirshprung's Disease, two surgeries, Kidney reflux, acid reflux, two holes in her heart, incomplete lip I am sure I forgot something) this is the face I see every day. This is how she chooses to deal with one thing after another. I think we could all learn from her!

She is an amazing baby and oh, so happy. She smiles through everything. Every procedure, every doctor's visit. (4 this week alone) My heart fills with joy each time I look at her. When she laughs like that it actually makes me cry. It's a new concept I had to explain to the boys. They now say "Mom, are you so happy you are going to cry?" She has had a rough start but she pushes through and I predict by the time she turns one she will be all "fixed" up. We are fortunate all her issues are fixable. No long term issues we know of. But, man, it has been a tough 8 months. Her lip repair should be in the next month or so once the surgeons can coordinate their schedules.

Keep smiling and laughing....

Friday, February 19, 2010

Yesterday was an interesting day...

The day started off on the wrong note. I should have just stayed home but I didn't. We went to our usual Thursday play date. Apparently, someone came into my house overnight and replaced my lovely children with satan's spawn because they were acting like little devils. No one would listen and they were too wild. I actually packed them up and was making them leave before lunch was served. This caused near hysteria but I am not one to give in and I think the only way they learn a lesson is if you follow through. My sister was there and begged me to give them another chance and I caved. (very unlike me) They did get better after that because they really thought I was making them leave. They ate like they never ate before. Even Ciaran.

Next we were headed to Calleigh's eight month well check visit. I was bringing all the kids with me. Normally, I wouldn't be worried. They are very good but seeing how they were not in the best of moods I was a little nervous. All three of them fell asleep in the car in under 5 minutes. Not that it excuses their behavior but it makes it more understandable. It was only 1 in the afternoon and they were unconscious.

I drive around while they sleep and arrive at the doctor's office. Colin wakes up from his nap and says "Mom, where are my extra pants?" I say "we don't have any extra pants". He says "I think I had a little accident while I was sleeping". I undo his car seat and am immediately overwhelmed by the smell of poop. It was everywhere. Down his legs up his back in his seat on his coat. Now, I have theree other sleeping children in the car. No clean clothes and I have 1 minute before my appointment. Colin is now crying because he is upset he had an accident. I felt so bad for him because he was upset. My sister lives about 2 blocks from the doctor so I call her and she luckily answered the phone (THAT NEVER HAPPENS!!) She came over and brought me some sweat pants. It took my an ENTIRE brand new container of wipes to get all the poop off of him.

Now I unload the others after waking them. At this point I realize Frank didn't put the stroller back in the car so I am strollerless.

I will say to my credit I was still smiling at this point. I get them all in the office. The boys redeemed themselves and behaved like angels in the office. Of course I did give them some Valentine candy while they waited but it worked. Colin pooped two more times in the doctors. Calleigh now poops every 20 minutes since the colostomy reversal so I changed her about 3 times in the office. I am hoping she gets better quickly and her body realizes she only has 2/3 of her colon left.

I get them home and Ciaran and Cormac both have skid marks in their underwear. At this point I am so overwhelmed by the smell I think it is all over me. In the bath go the boys. Ah, a moment of lovely smelling children. No more pooping since.

I am guessing it's because they ate way too many pears the day before. I totally forgot pears make you poop. They love pears and had a pear feast the day before. I have learned my lesson!

Today has got to be easier, right???

Friday, February 12, 2010

By far one of THE BEST DAYS ever....





Yesterday became one of the best days. After being snowed in for two days we ventured out of the house. We had an awesome play date with our BFF's Kennedy and Jack. Cristina, their mom, is always a great hostess. We followed up by going taking Calleigh to a follow dermatology appointment for her raging diaper rash. Now, my three were just perfect angels at the appointment despite the fact the doctor was NOT friendly at all to the boys. But the good news? We have FINALLY turned the corner on this horrible hiney situation. Calleigh's butt no longer looks like raw chopped meat. This second medicine is working. Just reinforces my belief we know what is best for our kids. I told the Dr. the first medicine was making things worse. I feel so relieved for her. She no longer screams in pain anytime she goes the bathroom. And a bonus she has stared sleeping through the night again!!! She was sleeping before her surgery but began getting up several times a night again. Last night, she slept from 8-7! We did wake her at 12 for a diaper change to avoid her rash getting worse but still. HUGE IMPROVEMENT!!

On the way home from the doctors it was nap time. The boys didn't really get to enjoy the snow too much and for all the have played in it they have never been sledding. Only on a tiny hill on our lawn. I made the executive decision to skip nap and wait for Frank to come home. We headed down to Memorial Park and did some serious sleigh riding! Can you say NO FEAR???? THese boys were flying down this giant hill. They were so over the top happy to have this experience. Not to mention, Frank was going with them. The looks on their faces was priceless. We had Calleigh with us all bundled up so I stayed with her. I did get to go downt he hill once. I rode with Cormac and I will never forget it. I swear, they must have went 100 times. Each time pulling the sled up behind them and walking up this giant hill.

After about 2 hours we had to call it quits because it was starting to get dark. THe boys cooperated and came willingly to the car. Colin asked for an "indoor picnic" for dinner. I obliged and we ate our BBQ chicken, noodles and veggies on a blanket on the living room floor. I even busted out the picnic basket.

The boys were exhausted and went to sleep by 8pm.

All in all just a wonderful day. Days like today make me really remember what life is all about. It's all about the moments you will remember forever. It's all about spending some time with the most important people in your life. It's about not caring if someone spilled purple apple sauce on the rug. or BBQ sauce on the floor. Who cares. In the long run I will remember my family sitting together in the living room having and "indoor picnic" after the most memorable first time sledding. And as a bonus on the way to the drive to the park Cormac told me "Mommy, a chameleion is a type of lizard that changes colors". Now come on?

Nothing earth shattering really happened but man, it was a great day.







Our indoor picnic

Thursday, February 11, 2010

We are still here!

It's been a long time. But we are still here. I feel like i have been so neglectful of the blog lately. I swear we are just so busy. It seems I have no time to even breathe.

So, let me just give a quick run down:

Calleigh is doing well. She hates to poop but is dealing with it. She has the worst diaper rash you have ever seen. No kidding. We are seeing a dermatologist for it. This week we had 4 doctors appts for Calleigh in 4 days. Poor little girl. Luckily, they are mostly follow up visits. We are hoping to get her hiney under control soon but since she poops about 3 times an hour it's hard. Eventually, her body will realize she had 1/3 of her colon removed and will adjust and she won't be a pooping machine! We followed up with an ENT to make sure her breathing issues after surgery were just situational (pain meds/fluids/swelling from intubation) and he strongly feels that's what happened. He scoped down her nose and found nothing except to confirm she really does have SEVERE acid reflux. But we knew that already and she is already on medication. Somehow, she manages to be the happiest child I have ever met. Her smile is BY FAR the best smile I have ever seen. Her dimples are so cute you can't even describe them. She warms my heart every time I look at her.

Now for the triplets. What can I say? They are in a good place. They love school. They love their weekly play date. They love to play. They love to yell. They love to run around like wild maniacs. I would say the three's have been the hardest of all so far. Three very different personalities. Three wild imaginations running wild each day. Tons of laughing and playing along with fighting. They really don't fight to much with each other but they love to challenge me. Seems like it's the favorite past time at the moment. Most days are great. But the days that are not great are usually a disaster. Those are days we are in the house all day. If we are out there is never an issue. Nothing. Nada. Doesn't matter where we are they just love being out.

I think Colin is starting to read. He is sounding out words. He is spelling lots of words. He really is a smart cookie.

Ciaran has really made some big leaps lately. He seemed to have the hardest time learning his letters and sounds but he wizzes through them now. He is showing more of an interest in learning too. He still continues to want me to read to him the most.

Cormac is doing awesome. He too seems to be starting to learn to read. He can tell you what any word starts with. He doesn't miss a trick. He can tell you EVERYTHING that happens at school. He will tell you who the leader of the day was and what they did. He can tell you who sat next to him and his brothers. He thrives at school. As we start to approach the triplets 4th birthday it means we have to write another IEP. We need it in place by April 6th. Not a lot of time. Guess I have to start contacting the school district.

We are in the midst of a big snow storm. Lot's of language: blizzard, gusting winds, white out. Just last night Cormac told me bears hibernate in a cave. Hibernate? that's a pretty decent word for a three year old.

We continue to tell stories each night before bed. The stories are getting longer and more detailed. The language being used gets more complex and the details are very descriptive.

That's it for today. Off to make pancakes and then we are off to a big fun snow play date!