So much has happened since my last post...and the lack of blog time definitely reflects the CRAZY that is now our lives. Pictures are desperately needed, but I am feeling as though any documentation, even bullet points is a medal worthy accomplishment.
Betsy came off the vent AND came home. She was discharged December 26th, our little belated Christmas miracle.
Speaking of Christmas, it was not as I imagined baby's first Christmas to be. No debut of monogramed stockings (although they have been picked out, just not ordered...a nod to David and the budget), no cute matching outfits with red bows on the girls, and no adorable Christmas card that I have been planning since we got married. *sigh*. More disappointing was the fact that my sisters kids have been battling a cold/stomach bug so we couldn't all be together on Christmas AND it was the first time in, well EVER, that the Scheuerman sisters didn't have coordinating Christmas outfits. Sad day.
However, we did receive the most amazing Christmas ornaments, courtesy of our fabulous nurses. These sweet things were the sole reason we had any Christmas decorations up at all. They deserved proper display, so I sent David for a tree :)
Every triplet mom, book, blog, etc. stressed getting the babies on a schedule. So I imagined 24 bottles prepared and lined up in the fridge, then 3 babies eating simultaneously every three hours with a mix of bath, tummy time, story time etc. Seriously?! Betsy has a MIC-KEY button and has to eat every 3 hours. First we offer a bottle, she usually takes half and the rest we have to give her through her gtube. Sounds simple but insert screaming child and the process takes 45 minutes to an hour and a half. Since Tuesday Dane has been sick. He has thrown up three times and isn't finishing a full feeding. After much observation and worry we think (and so does the doctor) that he has silent reflux. Hopefully a little rice cereal and Zantac will help. And Estelle...sweet baby girl is being as low maintenance as possible. Basically things are insane and no one is eating or sleeping at the same time.
Weight breakdown:
Estelle 8lbs 8oz
Dane 8lbs 5oz
Betsy 7lbs 3oz
In addition, our first child- Baxter our dog, came home from his long stay with David's parents. He has been amazing with the kids and I plan to do a Bax/baby post soon. Please note that I am truly thankful for the REAL meaning of Christmas and that it also happens to mean that my two little sisters are out of school and have sacrificed sleeping in and any sort of fun over break to be here helping with my multiple screaming children!
Being a new mother is difficult. Being a NICU mommy is difficult. Being a mother of multiples is difficult. Put those all together and your job in life right now is impressively challenging. Don't be too hard on yourself. Take what works for you all from the books and blogs, but laugh and toss the rest out as great for someone else's family. It doesn't matter if they have to wait a few minutes to be fed or changed because you are doing just those things with another baby. It just matters that their needs are being met and that they are well-loved.
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