A visit to the Clinic

So today I took Conor and Keira to visit the fertility clinic that helped us have babies.  We saw Dr. Hudson, medical director of the clinic (who was also my obstetrician, the best on the island), Leigh (I think she is a nurse, we saw her a lot), Robert (the one who does the petre dish work) and a few other of the clinics employees.  It was so nice to see them all, especially Dr. Hudson.  He was an amazing doctor.  He would phone me in his off time when I was pregnant to make sure I was doing ok pregnancy wise and emotionally and would tell me to call if I ever needed to talk or had any questions.  I didnt really see him much the last few weeks of my pregnancy b/c it was such a high risk one, I saw Dr. Dansereau (the perinatologist) more at that time.  They said that my babies dont look like preemie babies at all.  Apparantly a lot of preemie babies can have funny shaped heads and mine dont!  Keira was smiling away and Conor just looked concerned. 

Im always shocked at what can stir my feelings about Cadence.  At the clinic Dr. Hudson asked their names, so I told him Conor, Keira and their sister was Cadence.  At the time it didnt bother me.  But when I got home and thought about it, I started to cry.  I always want to acknowledge her.  When people say, oh you have twins,  I want to say, actually I have triplets, their sister is in heaven.  But they always feel awkward then.  But that isnt really what stops me from mentioning the triplets.  Its the fact that I dont want people thinking that Im asking for more attention or pity over my little angel.  I dont know if I should even care about what people think.  I do have triplets, I am a mother of triplets, and Conor and Keira arent twins, they are triplets w/ Cadence.  It really makes me feel guilty to not mention her when I talk about my babies.

So Keira has learned to go from lying on her back to lying on her side!  Only a matter of time before she flips to her belly.  Thank goodness she is ok at lifting her head at tummy time.  Conor on the other hand is not!  But he doesnt seem to be anywhere close to rolling over.  When he does tummy time he gets really frusterated and seems to try and use his back to lift his head rather than push up on his arms.  I have tried every position, having him lie on me, on the ground, on his nursing pillow, on a rolled up blanket,  and always the same result.  But if you put him in a sitting position, he can sit on his own, though I wouldnt dare leave him b/c he is still pretty wobbly. 

Conor doesnt like to nap but Keira does.  She gets so cranky.  Conor will sleep a day away every 3 or 4 days and then is good for the next few.  Sleeping in the crib for Keira isnt going so great.   Last night she woke at 9 w/ a stuffy nose so I knew that she had reflex.  I put her in the swing for the night.  But I will try again tonight.  Might try raising her mattress an inch again.

Chelsey Roberts and her daughter Eva were here yesterday to see the babies.  Conor and Keira have changed so much since she took the photos of them.  Eva has grown so much as well.  Its amazing how quickly kids change when you dont see them for 4 or 5 months.  Unfortunatly my cat Sparty wasnt too keen on being pet and he swiped at Eva.  Guess Im gonna have to smarten him up before my kids want to start petting him!

I got to go out w/ some girlfriends from church on Tuesday night.  I was a bit nervous leaving the babies at home w/ Shaun as he hasnt had to put them to bed by himself yet and it isnt always easy.  But he did a great job and the babies were really good for him!  THank goodness, now I have a better chance of getting to go out again!  It was fun being out and hopefully we do it again soon.  You dont always get to have good chats at church. 

Below are a few pics I took w/ Chelsey’s lense (I really really want to get this lense!!)

Kids are teething!

So we have started the next phase of teething.  Keira was the first to start fussing about it.  It comes and goes for her.  One day is bad, the next not so bad.  Conor has been real fussy the last 3 days.  Infant development recommended Camilia so I tried it and it works!!!  And right away.  Its all natural and doesnt numb their gag reflex but I still only give it once a day if needed. 

Keira is finally sleeping in her crib.  Since we moved here, she has been sleeping in our room in her swing.  I was worried when I moved her back to the crib she would wake every 3 hours but she is still on her regular schedule, usually 2 am and then up at 7.  Im getting enough sleep that I dont feel the need to nap. 

They are getting so big.  We saw Dr Bolaria (their pediatrician) this week and Conor weighed 14 lbs, 1 oz and Keira was 12 lbs 7 oz.  Unfortunatly we have been advised not to take them to play groups or church or other places where there are a lot of people around due to the fact that they are at risk for RSV.  So hopefully Shaun will be able to handle them at least every second sunday so I can go to church.  Come spring time, we can bring them out more.  Its hard out in public w/ them b/c everyone touches their hands and w/ school back in, most kids seem to have a cold.  So if we see you, please dont be insulted if I ask you to wash your hands or use hand disinfectant before touching my kids.  I dont think I have ever washed my hands so much in my life! 

My best friend Richelle Grocott was here for the week.  It was nice to have her here.  She skipped on the diaper duty and nighttime feedings but was a big help during the day.  Funny thing is, I never even though to ask her to change a diaper.  I guess I just do it w/out thinking.  Not so bad when its your own kid, though Im not sure I’ll be singing the same tune when they start solids. 

Infant development says that they are physically at the age of 3 mos (their corrected age) but socially are like a 5 month (their acutal age).  And there has been nothing to indicate that Keira was affected by the loss of her sister.  I am so thankful for them and that they are doing so well despite everything they went through!

Being a parent is so hard!!  Especially when daylight savings takes effect.  Tonight Conor was in bed at 630 and Keira at 6.  This means at the latest a 5 am wake up for me and I wont be able to fall asleep till later.  I have found that I am a very grumpy person when I dont get my needed sleep.  Thank goodness for a forgiving husband though Im sure this is taking its toll on him. 

On Sunday Conor and Keira were dedicated at church.  They behaved themselves pretty good.  They put together a slide show of all the babies being dedicated (there were 7 I think) and I got all choked up when they put up the shot of Conor an hour after he was born, hooked up to everything to keep him alive.  Its hard to believe all that they have gone through.  They are my miracles and Im so thankful for them.  I just wish Cadence could be here with us as well.  I do still have my moments missing her and hope that I always will.  The other day on Oprah there was a video of a baby boy who’s birth was a miracle and it was a matter of days before he passed on.  The parents video tapped every day of his life and he lived for 99 days.  They celebrated every day that he lived.  It was so touching and really made me think of Cadence.  I wish so much that I would have gotten the chance to meet her, even if it was for only an hour.  I think it would have been harder to lose her after meeting her but at least I would have looked into her eyes and told her I loved her.  Im so thankful for a Heavenly Father who has welcomed her into Heaven and that I will get to meet her again one day. 

Keira is either sleeping, eating or crying it seems w/ a short time of smiling.  Sometimes I wonder if she is lonely for her sister but I think most of the time her tummy is hurting her.  I can settle her down as long as I stand w/ her and put pressure on her belly but she is getting heavy!  She weighed in at 12 lbs 3 oz when she went to get her immunization shots last week.  I dont have a weight for Conor but Im sure he is close to 13 lbs.  Conor smiled at himself in the mirror for the first time today.  His smile just makes my life that much better.  He is so easy to make happy now.  Him and Keira did a complete switch and he is now the easy one.  Keira is so cute when she talks to you.  It is such a gentle talk.  I cant wait till they can say words.