Doctor Visit and Our First Shots

Yesterday we got packed up in the car seats to head to the doctor for a checkup and our first vaccinations. 

We don't like being tied down in these torture chairs and we were sure to let Dad know about it.

Serena cried hysterically from the time she sat down until just as we pulled into the parking lot.

Scarlett complained at first but with binkie along for the ride she was ok.....

Sadie was let out a random smile just as Dad was taking a picture as she strained and pushed trying to get comfortable.

The doctor looked us over and said we sure looked healthy.  Our weights were right on track for babies our age:  Serena was 7lbs 12oz; Scarlett 7lbs 6oz; and Sadie 8lbs 2oz.    After that we were in for a real treat as the doctor brought in our vaccines.  We didn't know what they were but we quickly learned that we don't like them AT ALL.  It was more torture all over again as they seemingly stuck us repeatedly (even though it was only twice) and it HURT.  We "calmly" expressed our dislike for it to all present but it didn't seem to do any good.  Finally we were packed back in our car seats for the ride home.

Exhausted, we all collapsed and slept all the way home.  Hopefully we won't go back there for awhile.....

Today we're Week 40!!!

Thursday, October 15th, is Week 40 for us.  If we had been born today we would have been considered full term.  Our weight is appropriate for a baby of that gestation--Serena:  7lbs 3oz; Scarlett 6lbs 15oz; and Sadie is 7lbs 10oz.

To celebrate Dad decided to take a group photo of us and boy was that fun.  We have a bit of a hard time sitting up straight of course, but what do you expect?  We're little! 

Everything started out ok.....

Sadie: "Whoa...sorry...."

Scarlett: "Hey, you're muscling me out. GET OFF ME!"
Serena: "Oh here we go....."

Scarlett: "Serena's elbow is in my face! MOVE! OW!!! Sadie's biting me!!!"

Serena: "MOVE OVER!!"
Sadie: "Mmmm....there's some left over formula on your arm...."

Finally Dad got us separated.......but then it all started again.......

Serena and Scarlett: "Sadie pushed us!"

Sadie: "What in the world is wrong? I didn't mean to, I'M SORRY!"

That was about all the fun Dad could stand.  He then separated us and took pictures of each of us by ourselves after we all settled down.

Serena

Scarlett

Sadie

Chip off the old block

It's been reallly hard for me to see myself in any of the girls so far.  Sometimes I'd look at them and just stare but simply couldn't see anything that looked like me....which isn't necessarily a bad thing....but still.  Scarlett looks the most Asian of course and resembles Sherrie quite a bit, especially her eyes and her skin in general.  Serena reminds both of us of Sherrie's mother which we both laugh about.  Today was the first day that I felt like Sadie looked like me.  The way she looked just sleeping there looked like some of my baby pictures.  When I leave to go to work and when I come home, I look at them and still can't believe it.

Serena

Scarlett

Sadie

Family Photos

It's always tough taking family photos as I'm sure everyone knows.  There's always someone who is bent out of shape, crying, looking the other way, blinking, or otherwise just being difficult.  And that's just the wife....the kids are even worse!  Here's our first crack at it.  In this pic it's just Mom; Serena and Scarlett are dozing off and slouching while Sadie is trying to wave the whole thing off and start over since she wasn't ready.

It took several shots to get that masterpiece so by the time Dad got in the picture, they had pretty much had enough of the flash.  Serena is really getting upset and was screaming at me, "TURN THAT stupid flash off and snap the freakin' picture!  Like this!  LIKE THIS!!!!!"

Finally I gave up and just snapped a pic of each of the girls after we fed them.  With a full belly they are a little more laid back and mellow.  Funny how a belly full of milk seems to intoxicate them and they sit pretty much in a daze.  It's like every feeding is 10 minutes after Thanksgiving dinner for them.

Serena

Scarlett

Sadie

Diaper Duty

I have to believe that today's diapers are a lot better than the cloth diapers of the past; but that is not to say that there aren't episodes despite the modern conveniences. Today after feeding Serena I lifted her up to change her diaper and found that she had a blowout from one leghole, down her leg, all over the blanket, her feet, even her elbow....for crying out loud it was all over my shorts too. Oh the joys of parenting. You haven't lived until you've gotten a legfull of poop let me tell you.

We change each baby's diaper after each feeding which is every 3 hours or 8 times a day.  That's 24 diapers a day or roughly 720 a month!  At $19 for 72, we're spending $190 a month just on that.  Heaven help us when we go all in with formula.  That stuff is like gold dust.  I received a savage beating from Sherrie when I a few grains spilled out onto the countertop.  I won't let that happen again, let me tell you.

We're growing!!!

We are all growing rapidly.  At our last checkup on Tuesday, Serena was 6lbs, Scarlett was 5lbs 12oz, and Sadie was 6lbs 6oz.  It must have been all of those chips and dip and hot wings we ate while watching football on Sunday with Dad.

Left to Right:  Scarlett, Sadie, and Serena

Hospital Stay and Coming Home

After birth, the 3 girls were immediately placed in the NICU for close monitoring.  Being 8 weeks premature, their lungs needed to further develop, their liver needed to begin functioning, and they needed to learn to maintain their own body temperature.  After a little more than a week, they each began to move into closed incubators which kept the air temperature constant, keeping them warm.  Another week went by and soon the began to transition to open cribs as their temperatures stabilized.  They continued to be on a heart and respiratory monitor as they had periodic spells where their breathing would slow and their heart rate would subsequently drop. 

Over the next 10 days they began to take more and more feedings from a bottle instead of their feeding tubes.  One by one, they nippled all of their feedings for 2 consecutive days and remained spell-free over that time.  Serena came home first on September 17 followed by Scarlett on the 19th.  Sadie came home on week later on the 26th.  During that time, Sadie had been fed formula and had gained substantial weight, even passing Serena.  At the time they were released, Serena weighed 5lbs, Scarlett 4lbs 12oz, and Sadie 5lbs 12 oz.

Introduction and Brief History

Serena, Scarlett, and Sadie were born on August 22, 2009 at 32 weeks and 2 days.  The pregnancy was especially difficult for Mom as she was placed on full bedrest at 22 weeks at the hospital due to complete placenta previa.  One of the placentas was attached directly over the opening of the cervix.  This places the entire pregnancy at high risk for sudden, excessive bleeding and makes for a dangerous delivery.  She was also diagnosed with gestational diabetes, a common, but usually temporary ailment that severely limits the types of food that can be eaten.  Mom, being Asian, did not get to eat the normal foods she grew up on--rice, noodles, and sweets.  Not getting to experience the eat-with-reckless-abandon-pregnancy-pig-out-nightime-send-Dad-to-the-store-for-pickles-and-ice-cream was made worse by having to eat hospital food while confined to a small hospital bed for 10 weeks  She eventually was granted 20 minutes of outside time in a wheelchair and Dad did his best to bring home-cooked meals and carb-friendly Asian food to satisfy her cravings.

The result was 3 beautiful baby girls who were small, but healthy:  Serena was 4 lbs 1oz; Scarlett 3lbs 7oz, and Sadie 3lbs 9oz.  Here are their week 28 3-D ultrasounds:

Serena

Scarlett

Sadie