Week 30- Happy 7 Month Birthday Babies!

My babies 7 months ago!
Alex, my intellectual
Emerson, my carnivore

Max crawling to his toy
Austin and Alex- What a proud big Bro!

Week 30

Happy Birthday Babies!

7 months and counting. The time has flown by for me. The babies are doing so amazingly. I can't believe they are rolling, sitting up(with assistance), talking (mama...whoo hoo) and now crawling. OK only Max is crawling but put all the babies in their walkers and back up. They cruise in those things. They have just come so far since being in those little incubators with all the tubes and wires. I look back at the pictures and feel such depression that my babies had to go through all that. As their mother I will always feel responsible for not keeping them in longer. If only I where several inches taller maybe I could have but frankly, I ran out of room! I know I shouldn't feel guilty, but I always will. It's like guilt accompanies motherhood no matter what.

OK, so we ventured out this weekend with the triplets(Austin was with Grandma). WOW! What a circus. I actually heard that circus music in the background as we walked through the mall! Yup, we went to the mall. Why we went to the mall is beyond me, but we did. Within moments of exiting the minivan, people began the "Oh my goodness...three"! Than, after securing them in the triplet stroller or as I like to call it "The TRAIN", we entered the mall. Only to have people STOP....let me reiterate....STOP directly in front of us and say...."Are they triplets?". NO....we've abducted 3 different peoples children and decided to parade them around The Boulevard Mall! Than starts the inevitable whispers, "Wow, three babies", "Triplets?", "OMG three", "Twins...No Triplets!". Like we don't know there are three of them. We had people make the comments "You are so blessed", "What a blessing", "You must have a lot of patients" and "Good luck!". Those aren't so bad. The ones i can't stand are the people who stop directly in front of you(blocking us from walking any further) and wanna tell us "how much work it's gotta be", "how tired I am", or that look of utter disgust, you know the "better you than me look"! We had people ask these questions..."Are they all yours?", who else's would they be. To David, "How many jobs do you have", "do you have super sperm" (yup someone actually said that). "Are they identical?", look at them, NO! "You had a c-section, right?", "Are those three twins?", WOW! And my favorite..."Do they have the same birthday?". Are people in general just completely stunned by the fact that their are three of them and it turns their brains to mush? I'm just curios. I got to the point when we walked by people that I would say..."yes, they are triplets, yes their are three of them, yes they are all boys and yes we know it's gonna be rough." I felt such a feeling of anxiety for my children. They are going to have to live their lives like a carnival side show. They don't deserve that. People will always stop and stare at them. I know most people don't mean them harm but, come on people...they are human beings not circus freaks. I don't think we will be venturing out to the mall again anytime soon. However, I do plan on getting T-shirts made....Yes we are triplets, Yes we are boys, Yes we are cute, now back off before we throw poop on you! Think that will get the message across? Poor Austin, he's gonna have to be such a protective big brother in the future! I can already see the "what are you looking at?" look in his face!

On a much lighter note, Max got his first war wound. While struggling with a toy, Max knocked it loose and straight into his eye! Now, my poor lil man has a small bruise under his left eye. First of many I'm sure but just thought I would share that. Also, I heard the most beautiful thing a mother could hear. Emerson started saying "Mama". It started out a small "mmmmmmmm" sound, went into a "mmmmmaaaaaaaaa" and ended up the most amazing sound "mmmmaaaammmmaaa". I haven't been this happy since Austin muttered "mama" for the first time almost 4 years ago. I am one proud mama right now! It was worth the wait!

It's Official

It's Official!

At 9:50 this morning Maxim Charles Stinner crawled! It wasn't his normal "scoot & pull" it was an authentic crawl. He wanted desperately to get to Emerson so he could bite his toes. He got up on all 4's and crawled. I am so proud!!!!!!! He looked at me so happy, like "did you see me mom?". What a milestone for my big boy. I just wanted to have everyone share in my joy!!!!!

Week 29

Sidney & Austin in the Yard Playing in the snow!Man it's CCCOOOOLLLLDDDD!
Max hated the orange stuff
Alex enjoyed itEmerson thought it was just ok
Alexander reading to the other children
Emerson sitting by himself for the 1st time

Emerson says, What are you looking at?
Alex, the double fisted teether

Max is gonna kick your butt!
Playtime

Alex...too cute
Max....my sweet baby

Week 29

Well the boys are finally feeling better. That was the longest couple of weeks of my life. The boys weren't sleeping well, I wasn't sleeping well and life was chaotic. I hate that! God forbid life stray from my well manicured existence. It really gets me frustrated when we vary from our routine...damn OCD! Actually everything hasn't completely returned to normal. The boys are still having sleeping issues but I think that may be more teething than whatever got them sick. Max has been getting up within an hour or two of going to sleep and staying up. Usually he's screaming at the top of his lungs the whole time. That's what makes me think it's his teeth more than anything. No teeth have broken through yet on any of them. That's got to be so painful for my lil babies. I feel so bad for them when they have my whole hand in their mouths and they're going to town like little pitbulls. The second they get teeth, there will be NO CHEWING ON THE MAMA!
So Alex is talking up a storm. This week he started saying "poop, bubba & baba". Still no Mama or Dada. I'm sure they will come in time. The other babies do a lot of babbling. They both say "Hiya" and other baby coos but nothing truly substantial yet.
Austin is getting ready for Kindergarten. He is starting to read more and talks like an adult. He is looking so forward to going on the school bus, he wants to know all about it and asks all the "Kid appropriate" questions like, "where will it pick me up? Will I have friends on the bus? Does the bus use Eco friendly fuels?...." Just kidding on the last one but those of you who know him, know it's just a matter of time before he does say something like that.
I am so getting cabin fever lately. Did you all see that snow fall over the weekend....Holy crap! I am DONE with the snow. The boys and I have been in the house all winter long. I am starting to seriously want to scream. I can't wait to got out side and play with the boys in the yard or go for a walk...yes we have a triplet stroller...thanks Daddy! Fresh air is a luxury I have not had the privilege of experiencing in many moons! Who talks like that...see what I mean about the cabin fever...it's affecting my brain!Anyway, Austin went out and played in the snow with his dad. He loved it. He ws sledding and laughing and the dog was trying desperately to pull him, it was a blast to watch....from inside my house...somebody let me out!!!!!
The boys are trying new things everyday. Max is the only one mobile though...thank God! Emerson sat all by himself today with no assistance! That is a huge accomplishment. He was upright for about a minute before he realized what he was doing. It was amazing. Alex is my rocker. He will rock from side to side to get what he wants.But he shows no signs of crawling or scooting anytime soon. They are also trying new foods. Today we had green mush that the boys spit back at me so I tried orange slop which they loved and then followed up with some pinkish brown stuff that they loved! Gotta love Gerber, some of the fruits aren't half bad...y'know you've tried it!

Update

My sick babies this morning
Look at that red nose & sad eyes

Does this baby look sick to u?The only HAPPY Baby!

Update

As you all have read the boys have been sick. I thought things where getting better, but I was wrong! Yesterday we had a little set back. David is out of time (just for 2 days, 1 night), and the boys where in rare form. They where very fussy yesterday during the day. Not wanting to be put down I was in between a rock and a hard place! My Aunt Terri came around 4pm to help me out...but again...they cried and cried and cried. This continued until around 8pm. After my Aunt and Thomas left I put all three babies to sleep. After 15 minutes or so Max cried. I went up stairs tapped his bottom(it soothes them) and he fell back to sleep. 15 minutes later, he cried again...I repeated the motion...tap, tap, tap...sleep. Meanwhile I was cleaning up, spraying Lysol on everything, getting the water boiled for the next day, running the dishwasher, doing the laundry and getting the garbage out. Amongst other things that I do every night. Most people know this by now but I have terrible OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), my house is always spotless, everything in it's place. Although since the babies where born it has subsided a little bit, but not much! So anyway, this crying, tapping, sleeping thing went on for about 2 hours. After finally hearing from David, I finally decided to go to bed around 12 am. No sooner did I lay my head on the pillow did Max start to scream again. I knew he wasn't feeling well...the crust around his eyes and nose was forming, his eyes where watering and he was congested. I put him in bed with me, thinking this might help him relax.....it didn't. We went from upstairs to downstairs from the swing to the crib to my bed. Nothing was helping. He was screaming! I tried Tylenol, a warm wash cloth rub down and rocking...for hours...nothing! Finally, 3am my darling Max falls asleep. I just rest my head down on the pillow and ...................................WAAAAAAAAAAA! Alex starts screaming! I give him a baba, hoping he is just a little hungry. Should I be so lucky? Nope...Alex wants to talk, he coos, caas, Opas and refuses to go to sleep. I put him in the crib, he screams, in my bed...he pinches and then screams. We go down stairs...he screams. Again, I try Tylenol, a warm wash cloth rub down and rocking...for hours....nothing! Finally, he falls asleep in the swing. In the meantime, I am freaking out because Max is on my bed. Just then......................WAAAAAAAAAAAA! Max is awake!

I call David who is Washington D.C. for a conference. I'm not sure if I needed moral support or if I wanted to wake his butt up...I mean the nerve of him getting sleep! hahahahaaha, just kidding. I needed support. For the first time since they have been born, I felt myself loosing control. I can't believe i was feeling that way. It wasn't like I was going to do something stupid, it was more like I felt myself wanting to cry...so I did. I cried, I prayed and I let my children cry for a few minutes until I regained my composure. I than put them in their swings and let them cry themselves to sleep. It only took a few moments but it seemed like a lifetime.

I sat up in the then quiet living room and looked at the clock, it was 6:47am. The sun had risen and I could hear the traffic picking up outside. I thought, "If I lay my head down, i can get 1 hour of sleep before Austin has to get up for school". Just than, I hear "Mommy, are you down there?". He was up! And so was Emerson, My two boys who seemed virtually unfazed by last nights events where awake. Happy, smiling, little angels, so bright eyed and happy to see Mommy! Like every morning, wanting breakfast. I stood up, rubbed my eyes and tended to my children....doing what I do best...being a Mom, no matter what time of the day or night.

Last nights events where my first true test as a mother. I think I passed with flying colors. Everyone survived the night, including me, tattered, torn and exhausted. Right now, I can be found lying on the floor with my sleeping babies, typing this blog rather than sleeping because I know if I close my eyes...it will begin again! I wouldn't change it for the world! Oh crap....THEY'RE UP! Here we go again!

Week 28

Emerson, I love that face.

Alex.
What are you lookin' at?

1..2...3..Max pins Austin for the win!
Daddy & Alex

Max is mobile
Don't make me tell u again!

Austin cracks himself up
Emerson cutie boy

Week 28

DEAR GOD HELP US, MAX IS MOBILE! My darling little peanut, Max "The Crazy Man" Stinner has begun to crawl. Now what do I do? Within the last couple of days, Max realized he can stick his butt in the air while on his belly and lunge forward creating movement. Today, I went to take a shower, all three babies on the living room floor sleeping peacefully in their boppy's. I had the baby monitor in the bathroom with me when I heard Alex start to stir. I than heard Max ans subsequently Emerson. I got dressed and came downstairs within 3 or 4 minutes of hearing the first baby make a sound. I find Alex and Emerson in the same positions I left them in but Mr. Max was half way across the living room on his belly underneath his swing. He looks at me with this huge smile like"Ah ha! I did it". Like I said God help us....it's just a matter of time before they are all mobile!

So, last week the triplets had what I perceived to be "flu like" symptoms. Cranky, lethargic, oozing stuff, pukey and feverish. Now my poor children have developed ear infections! I'm new at this because Austin has been a relatively healthy child. Aside from the flu twice and the occasional head cold, he is healthy. Now I have these three non-verbal children crying uncontrollable, not sleeping, oozing the nastiest stuff I've ever seen pulling at their ears and SCREAMING. I feel helpless. I know every mother goes through this feeling of complete helplessness. But today I am feeling more helpless than usual. Poor Alex slept with me for 3 nights. He was so congested. He was choking on his own snot and I couldn't help him. He is coming out of it slowly after taking him to the pediatrician and getting antibiotics. However, within the last 24 hours both Max & Emerson have become symptomatic. I have started them on the meds and hopefully in a week everyone will be better. I guess I should feel lucky. Three babies born 8 weeks premature and they only have had 1 major cold.

The boys have continued their physical therapy for the past few months now. They are doing amazingly. They are all sitting up(w/little assistance). They roll and now Max is starting to crawl. This is actually right where they should be. It's amazing that they are not delayed. They are almost completely age appropriate. In fact, Alex's verbal skills are unbelievable. He already is saying "Hiya, ooooooh, ahhhhh, ut oh" and most recently "Opa". That's right....not mama, not dada....OPA. We are not sure if he is referring to Davids dad which the kids refer to as "Opa", Grandpa in German, or if he thinks Austin is Opa. Every time he sees Austin he says Opa, Opa, Opa. So he may be confused or maybe he's just playing mind games. We'll see.

Week 27

Max hates his socks.

Alex takin' a bath.....relaxin'

Round table chat

Plotting Austins demise!

Emerson sitting like a big boy

Week 27

Life has pretty much returned to normal since I've returned from Las Vegas. The boys are showing more individuality now. They are no longer baby lumps lying on the ground. Within 3 days all three babies have started sitting up. It's like they had a meeting and said "enough lying around, let's get up and see how a different angle will change our worlds!". I am quite impressed though, one day I sat them up and they just stayed like that....I thought "Holy crap, it worked". Emerson and Alex love the upright position. Max on the other hand prefers to stand and jump. If he doesn't start walking soon, I think he may loose his little mind. He gets so frustrated that he can't just run to where he needs to go.

We are all sick! I was sick a few days after returning home, than felt better but somehow had a relapse and now have a full blown sinus infection. Dear God, help me! Now I have noticed all the babies are starting to have the stuffy noses and irritation. My poor angels. Austin on the other hand is awesome. No sickness yet! Thank God! It is probably because we are stuck in this house with all these germs. YUCK!

I have spent some of this week starting to set up my MySpace account. It is such an amazing site. I have reconnected with some friends from high school and am able to talk to friends and family that are all over the world. This World Wide Web is a beautiful thing!

I have to send out Kudos to my husband. He did an amazing job with the boys when I was away. I don't really give him the credit that he deserves. He is such an amazing Dad. I hear some fathers don't do this or that and my husband does it all. He works all day, helps me with the boys in the evening, gets Austin ready for bed and than gets up with the babies at night if they wake up. He even handles dinner most nights. Could I be any luckier? I think I am the luckiest woman ever. I couldn't do what I do with out him. He did it all when I was away and I don't know many men that would take that responsibility while their wives go out of town. I love u bala!

So a few months ago I started writing a book. It started out to just be little thoughts rants and raves about having multiples and it has quickly turned into a full on novel about my life and all aspects of it. We'll see if anything comes of it. Right now it's just a preliminary concept. But eventually I hope to put it in novel form and get it published. We'll see. My life is actually more interesting than I thought. Lately it has turned into a soap opera. I plan on incorporating these blogs in someday as well or even making them into a memory book for my kids. I've realized that there is more detailed info in the blogs than in their actual baby books. Hopefully they can look back on these and reflect on their lives, like I do!

Week 26

Emerson is soooooooooo happy Mommy's home!
Alex is unimpressed!
Grandpa & his boys
Max doing what he does best

Elle's 1st legal drink!
My beautiful sisters on the Vegas strip

Congrats! Dad & Robin

Week 26

Happy Birthday Babies! 6 months and counting! That's right my babies are a half of a year old. I can't believe it! It went so fast. Unfortunately we all have the flu! Not a huge deal, they are a little pukey, overly tired and just a little more miserable than usual. They had a great week with their Daddy and all the family that helped...Thanks Oma, Opa, Dad, Aunt Kathy and Grandma Linda! 5 days away from Mommy and they survived. I half wanted them to be miserable but they weren't. They had a genuinely great time. They where happy and smiley the whole time. According to my husband they didn't cry or fuss and everything was roses and sunshine. Except for when I came home. All three of them cried and fussed the whole day yesterday. I din't realize at the time that they where getting the flu. I just felt like they where acting up because I was home. They probably where a little bit. I know that they where held a lot more when I was gone than when I'm home. I try to give all 4 of my children equal amount of attention. Austin seems to get the least though because he doesn't need me as much as the babies. However, we have been working to spend more one on one time. But the babies get even time spread out between the three of them. I hold them to put them to sleep and varies times that I hold them to love them and smooch their cutie little faces. So of course when I was gone the babies got held constantly. And now they've been spoilefd and I have the responsability of getting them back into a routine. Now they have the flu...and so do I! ARRGGGHHH!
Vegas Baby! Las Vegas was a great time. My sisters and I loved the trip. I of course did not win any money but all in all it was a great time. I didn't actually gamble that much and I definately didn't drink alot but man o man did I eat. I blew my diet than some. The wedding was nice, there where a ton of people there, alot more than I thought. All of Robins (my Daddy's wife) family and friends where there, My cousins, Aunts and Uncle and Grandparents where all there. It was truly a Vegas expirience including when Elvis himself in a pink shiny jacket walked by us to use the restroom and said "Thank you, thank you very much" when we moved out of his way! There was even a drive thru wedding chapel at this place. We watched two couples go through, one where on motorcycles and the other in a convertable. It took all of 5 minutes and they where hitched. Man are these people gonna be pissed when they sober up! I wonder if there are drive through divorce courts in Vegas? I'll look the next time I'm there. It ws a good time though and my Dad and Robin seemed to have a good wedding week long extraviganza! My sister had a good birthday, we spent it shopping looking around and having her 1st legal drink at Tresure Island Casino. We than went to the Paris for a great dinner. I think she enjoyed herself I know that I did. The only thing that was a little disconcerning in Las Vegas is all the children. We saw an enormous amount of children out at all times of the night in smokey casinos. Little teeny babies. As a mother I wanted to take these parents and shake them. Don't they know the statistics on the damage of second hand smoke on infants. Some people are just incredibly ignorant and insensitive to the needs of their children. I think people should have to take a Parenting 101 before giving birth. Not that it would help. I think I'm done with Vegas for a while!

Weeks 24 & 25

Emerson learned how to hold his baba
Mad Max yelling at his MAMA!
Alex just being a cutie boy!

Happy Birthday Big Boy!

Chuck E Cheese freaks me out.

Max & Austin relaxin'

Weeks 24 & 25


Last week was Austins 5th birthday party. Chuck E Cheeses is not my idea of a fun time but my child loved it. He had all his friends from school come and he kept kissing this little brunette names Julianna who by the way was the cutest little girl I've ever seen. 5 years old and already smooching on the class hottie. What will I do? Well anyway he had a great time. He ran around playing video games with his friends and cousins.


Unfortunately on Austins actual birthday he came down with the flu. My poor man! He woke us up at 5 am with a high fever and vomit as far as the eye could see. I threw him in the bath, cleaned his room and put him back to bed. He was so sick he spent the next 36 hours on the couch in his playroom. He didn,t eat and only drank a little. I had to keep him seperate from the babies as to not expose them. If he ventured up stairs I had to chase him back to the playroom with the can of Lysol! He is feeling much better but I still kept him home from school today just to be sure. Besides the wind chill is -20 today, so I probably would have kept him home anyway.


The babies are doing well. They are teething like little mad men. They chew on anything they can get their hands on. I have to watch what they are close to because Emerson tried to chew on my camera. YUCK! That could not taste good. Anyway, I am freaking out a little....my babies are scooting. They are mobile! HELP! Emerson can scoot backwards about 5 or so feet in just a minute or two...Alex is trying to roll...and Max...well Max will be walking in a couple of weeks, I just know it. He rolls all over the place including on top of his brothers and starts pinching and scrathing. I think he may be a proffessional wrestler some day!


Lord help me they are all growing so fast. Next week they will be 6 months old, already! I look at them in my arms in the mirror and I'm shocked how long and how thick they are. There was a time I could hold all three and it felt like nothing and now, one baby strains my back. Don't even get me started on the size of Austin, he's going to be as tall as me in a couple of years and his feet are huge! I can't lift that kid to save my life! He's a little man now!


I'm starting to panic! Vegas is 48 hours away! I'm gonna miss my children so much. I just explained the whole thing to Austin and he is so cool...."go. have fun mom...you deserve it". Yes my 5 year old actually said that. I'm sure the boys will be great and David will take great care of them but I'M GONNA MISS THEM SO BAD! I've been there every second of every day since they where concieved. How do I leave them for 5 whole days! I'm gonna cry. I miss them all already! I am however looking forward to sleep, warm food and clothes without puke stains.

VEGAS HERE I COME!