Happy 1st Birthday Babies!

Well the first year has come and gone and what a year it has been. Our lives have forever changed and it has been for the better. We could never have imagined three babies and the happiness they would bring us. But...they have, even when there are tears to be dried or noses to be wiped, or even lately when the word "NO" is said more and more frequently. :) We cannot help but smile. My favorite times are in the morning hours when we are laying in bed getting ready to start the day and on the monitor are their sweet voices oooooing or babbling to us. Or...to walk into their room and see three baby faces looking at you through the spindles of the cribs. What a sight and a perfect way to start the day! We couldn't have asked for better babies - they are very content and happy.

At 11 months, Brooke started crawling and at 12, Zach joined in too. Luke is very laid back and just waits for us or his brother and sister to bring things to him. Brooke says mama, dada, hi, bye, puppy, Barney (ugh), and uh oh and her vocabulary seems to grow by the minute. The boys will say mama and dada but for the most part let their sister do the talking.

We had their birthday party yesterday! Luke put a finger to the blue icing, but really didn't want any part of it. Brooke took her little red cake in both hands and went to work. The bath water was truly pink when she was all done being washed up. Zach was a little slow to get started, but he too enjoyed his green cake and was taken straight upstairs to the bathtub! They did very well and got lots of fun toys, cute clothes, and so much more. (We're just not sure where it is all supposed to go!!!)






We are so blessed and thank God that he has entrusted these babies to us! I would love to keep updating but we are no longer in need of this site. I have tried blogging, but that too is time consuming and these days, we have little free time around here! So...Thanks for everyone that sent us comments on the site the past year, or prayed for us. It meant so much to us then when we needed the support and even now.








When I first started the web page for updates, I included the poem I wrote to tell my friends that we were going to have triplets. To end, I have added to the poem.
God Bless,
Jill


Luke, Zach, and Brooke

Our trio joined us early
two boys and one "girly".
Born February 8, 2008
We will never forget that joyous date.

After a 6 week hospital stay
we were prepared for the preemies coming our way.
We were informed about the risks, the tubes, & machines.
If was enough to turn anyone to a pale shade of green
What we had no idea about
was the instant love we felt - without a doubt.

The 1st month of your lives
were full of hopes, worries, and many long drives.
To the hospital we went
just seeing you made us feel content.
We often stood by your incubator side
trying not to worry about this part of our "ride".

First went the oxygen, then the enclosed bed
at one month of age, you were ready to be bottle fed.

Zach came home after six short weeks
we were happy to have him home, kissing all over his cheeks.

Brooke followed her brother at seven weeks,
she we learned fast, was going to fill our home with shrieks.

Luke was sent home after eight long weeks
with more bottle feeding knowledge and techniques.

The 1st two months were full of "fun"
being defined as bottles, diapers, no sleep, and nothing around the house getting done!
We soon got into a scheduled routine and
life around here became more serene.

Before we blinked you were sitting up, and starting to roll, the work load seemed to be less of a toll.
We wanted to keep you at this stage forever
Your baby laughs & playing together was worth the endeavor.



Luke is ticklish, full of deep baby chuckles and very content. One look at those dimples and there my heart went!

Zach has a mop of hair and is full of giggles,
he gives snugly hugs and loves to wiggle!

Brooke is a sponge and soaks it all in she has a flair for drama
and already thinks she is one hot mama!

We've gone through formula, food, and diapers galore
but it is each one of you we love and adore.

You three took our lives which once seemed empty
and in one year's time filled it aplenty.

So...happy birthday to our one year olds
we cannot wait to see what our future holds!

Two weeks under the belt

"Hey Brooke, do you see all the cars going by?"


"Yeah, Luke, I do. I could sit here for a whole two minutes and watch them go by!"



The first two week of school, flew by. If they all continue like that, summer is going to be here again before I know it. I think everything is going well. Cheri, our babysitter is wonderful. The kids are doing great, the housework isn't getting finished, but ... that is okay. Our days start at 5:15 am with feedings, diaper changes, and getting ready for work. Chad is off to work at 7, me at 7:45. I get home around 3:30-4:00, play with the kiddos, do laundry, get supper ready, go through the mail and never ending hospital bills, eat, and by 6, we are feeding cereal to the trio. After cereal, it is bath time, then bottles and to bed. They are in bed around 8-8:30, and we are in around 9:30 and sound asleep by 9:32!!!

Today was a work day around the house. Chad and my dad were outside cutting down trees and pulling up weeds and stuff that has grown rampant since I found out I was pregnant, put on bed rest, brought the triplets home, and have been indoors most of the summer. We are slowly getting ready to put a fence around the yard and hopefully, one day, we'll add a pool as well! Oh what dreams we have! I figure, might as well dream big!

Like I said earlier, the kids are doing great. They are all weighing close to 15 pounds if not more. Luke is such a big eater and likes to roll all over the place now. Brooke started blowing raspberries yesterday and she is shrieking and laughing to herself all the time. Zach is one crazy kid and although he isn't rolling yet, he is building up steam. He is a crazy kicker!!! We went to church today and they all did very well, just didn't take a nap like we expected them too. They were in bed early tonight due to lack of sleep, but that is fine since Chad and I are extra tired tonight as well.

Just a few updated pictures.



Zach gets more on his face and bib than he does in his mouth and stomach.










Luke glares at the camera and say quit taking pictures and feed me - I'm a growing boy!













Brooke gets excited and tries to help by grabbing the spoon or cereal and then wipes it all over her face!!!

What has been going on...

Our babies are almost seven months and we can't believe it. Time is flying by...

To

day actually marks the date of one year ago which is hard to believe - we went to the doctor for an ultrasound and found out we were going to have triplets. Oh does that bring back a rush of memories! :)

Anyway...

In early August, we went to the pediatrician for another round of shots. While we were there, she gave us instructions for cereal. Great-we have finally gotten used to feeding three babies a bottle and now we are adding another twist!!!

School started on August 19th. The past two weeks have gone very fast for me. If they continue to go this fast, summer is going to be here again before we know it. And...by that time, they'll either be walking or be close to it and that brings on a new set of sweaty palms and wonders of...how are we going to do it!!!???!!!

Luke and Brooke have started rolling over. Zach is getting closer. Brooke starting blowing raspberries yesterday and oh did we laugh. We probably won't think it is funny when the peas and green beans come shooting back at us, but it sure is cute now!!!

Luke is quite the eater. He loves his cereal, and his bottle. If fact, he likes anything he puts in his mouth, including his toes!

Brooke has found out that she can make new sounds with her voice. She is still cooing, but every once in awhile she puts a little shriek or a fake cough into the mix and then laughs at herself - being the little drama queen she is!

Zach is a squirmer and there is no other way to put it. He is probably going to kick the snot out of someone one day. His legs are always on the move. He is always quick to smile and laugh out a baby laugh that is sure to bring a smile to our faces.

These three have brought so much fun and joy in our lives!!! We count our blessings each day - that we have these wonderful babies to love.

Back to the Grind

School officially started on Monday. We had teacher's institute all day and an open house that night. I was dead tired and it was just the beginning of work and mommy-hood! Tuesday was better or just less hectic. I was able to get so much accomplished in the afternoon, that I left feeling good about the up-coming year.

I got home on Tuesday and watched Brooke roll over from her belly to her back. I thought at first it was a fluke, but after three times of "practicing", I decided, she mastered it and knew how to do it! Shortly after that, Luke decided he wasn't going to be outdone and he rolled over too - only he went back to belly. I was so happy to get to see them do this. I really thought they'd do it during the day while I was at school! And, then there is my wild man, Zach, he just lays there and kicks as fast as he can. We already know, he isn't going to settle for walking...he is going to run!!!

Today was a blur at school. Lots of rules and setting up shop with each different class. I was ready to come home and relax. I think my three are feeling my stress level and vying for my attention. Brooke, who was so extremely tired, fought to the end to stay awake. I ended up rocking her to sleep - which we have never done. I needed some mommy bonding time with my little girl and I think she needed it too! I put her to bed 45 minutes ago and now, I am off to the same place.

A Few of my Favorite Things

I love my babies, I really do. I am getting ready to go back to school and am having a rough time thinking of leaving them at home with someone other than their mommy. I have a wonderful sitter lined up, coming to our house, she has four of her own children, has many of the same values, but...she's not me! I have spent the past 5 months with these kids and although it hasn't been easy, it has been a time I'll never forget. The love I feel for them is indescribable, but here are a few of the few things I love about my babies.

~I love the scrunched up faces they make when they are taking their bottle and I stop to burp them. It is the same face that they give when they stretch "SOOO Big!"

~I love the way they pull their blankets around their faces when they are tired and laying in bed ready to fall asleep.

~I love the oohh's and the ahh's I hear on the monitor in the early morning hours when they should be sleeping.

~I love seeing Brooke smile as she talks to me. Her big blue eyes light up so bright, just thinking of those smiles, brings a tear to my eye.

~I love seeing Luke's slow easy smile with his little dimple popping out. He finds amusement in the smallest things!

~I love seeing Zach's devilish smile as he turns his head like he is flirting with you. He can make me laugh out loud with his little smirks!

~I love rubbing my cheek over their baby hair - what they have of it.

~I love the smell of their skin after a bath and in the morning after a peaceful night of sleeping.

~I love watching them play with their toys and the discovery of new things that excite them.

~I absolutely love everything about being a mom to these three precious babies. (Even the laundry and washing the bottles!!!) And, I can't wait to see them grow and find more things I love about them!