5 Months Old/New Year's Eve!

Today is New Years Eve and my adorable triplet's 5 month/2month adjusted birthday! What a year this was for my family! The year started off with us preparing for our Ivf cycle. I had been on a very strict low glycemic index diet for about 6 months prior to the cycle in preparation for a pregnancy. We were figuring out the financials for another Ivf cycle (they are about 10k so we had to save up our money for it), and figuring out if we even needed it (I had high hopes of becoming pregnant naturally in 2013). When my meds arrived from Istanbul in January without me even paying for them yet, I decided that it was a sign that we needed to proceed with the Ivf. The cycle went as well as it went with Noah's cycle- 7 eggs retrieved. Tim and I were debating on how many embryos to transfer this time. Tim and I agreed on no more than two, but on valentine's day 2014, when we went to our transfer appointment, our fertility doctor convinced us to do 3 again, given that 3 resulted in a single pregnancy (Noah), and we were unsuccessful with 3 one other time. I told the doctor about my diet that my naturalpath doctor put me on and he brushed it off and still gave us a 1% chance for triplets. We agreed on two, but at the very last second, we changed our minds and decided on 3. I just knew all 3 were going to take. I was so scared when we discovered all 3 took (on March 18th), mainly because the doctor told me I was "too little" to carry 3 and he "wouldn't let me carry 3." We, of course, are very against abortion and could not make a decision to terminate one of the babies so we put it in God's hands and just prayed every single night that I would carry them far enough for survival. The pregnancy was awful, with lots of bleeding, pain, and morning sickness, but I started to believe that it was all in God's plan when I went to my 18 week appointment and we found out the sexes (we've had the names Aria and Cadence picked out for years for girl names and Jude for a boy's name. We had no other names picked out and the chances of the ratio being two girls and a boy was only 25%). The pain and contractions each day were getting worse and worse and I kept praying that The Lord lets me cross over the line of survivability. When my water broke at 24+3, I knew I wasn't in active labor and I calmly told Tim to bring me to the hospital so I they can stop the labor. It's like I knew how it was going to play out. Of course I wanted to hold on to them for 28+ weeks but for some reason, 26 kept jumping out at me. The night I has them, I was so at peace with their arrival because The Lord told me I had crossed the line of death and survival. The nicu journey was scary at time, but I was very much at peace that God was in control and he promised me that they would be fine. What a testimony we all have now! I am very scared of the babies getting sick, of course, given that they have no immune system, but I know that they are going to be okay. I look forward to finally showing off my babies to the world when cold and flu season is over in spring 2015. I know that because they are triplets, they will naturally attract lots of attention. I am not looking forward to that attention, but I look forward to showing them off to our friends and family who have loved, supported, and prayed for them. People have been so good to the us between giving gifts, donating their baby items, making meals, and sending us words of encouragement. I plan on paying it forward to families in need in 2015 and always! What a year 2014 has been! I know our years to come are going to be filled with love and laughter (and will be extremely, extremely busy!)

5 month update- Cadence is now 10lbs4oz, Aria is now 8lbs11oz, and Jude is 10lbs6oz! They are starting to sleep longer at night and typically do a 5 hour stretch, then a 4 hour stretch. They still drink breastmilk but we recently have been supplementing with a little bit of formula because my frozen stash I was able to build up when they were teeny tiny, dwindled. We fortify their milk to make the calories 24 per oz so it's like they have 7 milk shakes a day instead of 7 glasses of milk. In other words, their volume is less than an average 2 month old baby, but they are taking the same amount of calories. Aria started really smiling two weeks ago, Cadence one week ago, and I swear Jude did a deliberate smile at me today :) Aria holds up her head the best and I call her my little championship burper :) Jude is weaning off his oxygen and hopefully he will be off completely by the time he has his next pulmonology app in Feb :)

Big brother Noah is the best big brother! He is so protective of "his brothers" (hehehe, he's a little mixed up!) When Popop comes in, he says, "don't touch the babies!" Lol. He had a wonderful Christmas and received lots of big toys, including a huge swing set that was donated to us, and a big wheel. He asked Santa for a Peppa Pig play set and got it :) Tim got me a necklace that he had custom-made with four fresh water pearls; 3 in a white gold pea pod and a single one slightly bigger above it with two leaves. It represents our whole family. It's the nicest piece is jewelry I will ever own, besides my wedding ring. We enjoyed this Christmas season watching Christmas cartoons and movies and making cookies. We missed church this year, so that is one thing I missed tremendous. And, the annual Handel's Messiah sing in, of course :)

The triplets had their first "official" photoshoot and the pictures came out beautifully. Thank you so much, Maria!

Here is to a wonderful 2015!

Jeremiah 29:11

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

My 4 hearts.

Cadence, Jude, Aria.

Such a great spur of the moment idea, Maria! A sign of a great photographer is thinking of Pinterest worthy shots on the spot :)

Another excellent spur of the moment shot.

Loves.

Soooo sweet.

Cutie pies.

Jude bug.

Cadee cakes.

Aria-The little lamb.

All 6 of us on Christmas Eve!

5 months old! Cadence, Aria, and Jude.

Cadee.

Ari.

My beautiful necklace Tim bought me that represents myself and Tim, Noah, and Cadence, Aria, and Jude. Thx, Steffanie for making it happen and for the pearls and chain!

Miss Aria is home!

I'm so sorry for the lack of update but all it means is I officially have no time to update because...

Miss Aria Marie is home! She came home on Wednesday, December 3rd and spent 125 days in the nicu. The nicu gave us an amazing send off with doctors, nurses, and therapists. We brought Jude and Cadence with us. We got pictures of our three Neonatologists holding each one. Dr. Maciulla, my ob., also came down to say goodbye. We were excited to be done with the nicu, but sad, too, because we've made some very nice relationships. 

Ari is doing GREAT at home! She is a very chill baby and only cries when she is hungry pretty much. Her appetite has been increasing since she's been home too and she has really taken to nursing. As of today, she is 7lbs140z! She has also been smiling- not just "I just farted" smile but deliberate, real smiles! She also holds her head and neck up the best out of all three and the pediatrician thinks she looks the most "mature." She is my little cutie with the sweetest round blue/gray eyes and light skin and hair!

Jude and Cadence are doing very well. They are a few Oz shy of 10lbs. I can't believe it! Jude has an appointment with the pulmonologist this week to see if he still needs oxygen. I've been doing room air trials with him with his pulse Ox on and he mostly sats in the 90s. I don't think it will be too much longer! Go Jude! Jude also has the handsomest blue eyes. I think they are blue enough to where they may stay blue. Cadence is doing well and is the best eater. She sometimes even does 4oz bottles! Go Cadee! She is my dark beauty with brown eyes and dark brown hair and olive tones skin. She looks the most different than her siblings but my mom says she looks a lot like me when I was a baby.

Noah is doing great with all 3 home. He is very helpful and lightens the mood so we aren't just in baby moad all day long. We are enjoying watching Christmas movies and shows on tv and enjoying other Christmas things like baking cookies and Tim and I were able to take him on a date to zoo lights and I took him to see Santa at the nicu with Cadence. We wish we can bring him to church, of course, but for now it is better to keep him quarantined from other kids so he doesn't get ill and get the babies ill. It is my worst fear.

We've been practicing feeding two at once and even all three at once. We are introducing a little bit of formula mixed with breastmilk because my frozen stash us dwindling pretty fast. I am proud to say that my babies were exclusively breastfed for nearly 5 months. I still pump 3x a day and produce 40 ounces per day and plan on pumping until I have nothing left. Jude and Aria breastfeeding really well too so I think my supply should be okay for another few months. While bottle feeding, we figured out that Jude and Cadence are up to 18-20 ounces per day and Aria is up to 16-18. I like bottle feeding so I can see what they are taking but breastfeeding is also nice too :)

Thank you, everyone, for the prayers. We could not have done it without all the love and encouragement. We know that The Lord performed a miracle. We heard how unusually well our babies did in the nicu compared to other 26 weekers. Unfortunately, Aria was next to a baby her last week who did not make it and the baby was a 27 weeker. We pray for that grieving family. It makes us hold our babies tighter and thank God everyday for them. We just need to keep them healthy this winter so we do not put their lives in danger. We are praying for health for our entire family right now. The babies have tons of doctor's appointments and I have already shown up to two wrong appointments. Go me!

Thank you, to everyone who signed up and brought us a meal and for all the many gifts. Thank you to everyone who has been helping, too! Especially my mom and Maria, who have been so dedicated in helping us! 

Here are some updated pictures of our last day in the nicu and us at home. I love Christmas time and so glad my entire family is "home" to celebrate the birth if Christ.

Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Tim, Dr. Livingston with Cadence, Dr. Bayder with Jude, Dr. K with Aria and me.

Me and Cadee, Tim and Jude, and Dr. Maciulla with Ari.

The send- off and triplet stroller (thank you, Jocelyn. Thinking if Kingsley, River, and Sawyer everyday <3)

First picture of the trio "home."

In their Christmas Jammies!

Big brother in his Jammies!

Christmas card photoshoot! (Ok, it is really hard to get triplets and a toddler all looking good!)

All mommy wants is a silent night. The babies, seriously, hardly ever cry and the nicu taught them to self soothe. I just loved these onsies and couldn't resist :)

The nicu invited us to come back and see Santa. It is a tradition we will do every year. I wasn't brave enough to bring all 4 of my kids so I eeny, meany, miney, moed it :) Noah had precidence, of course, and Cadence won :)

Daddy and u took Noah on a date to zoo lights!

Our mantle with 6 stockings!!!!!!!

Our new Christmas tree ornaments:) thx, cousin Susie for the penguin one!

2014 was a crazy, crazy, crazy year. But it was the BEST year of my life!!!!