On The Move

Well, she finally did it.  Katie officially crawled today.  I tried to get video of it, but every time I get out the camera she refuses to move.  She just stares at the camera.

Also, Maggie is the first to get to sitting on her own.  She did it this morning for a short time.  I'm so amazed by her.  She has some muscle issues, and has been seeing a physical therapist weekly.  I never thought she would be the first to actually get all the way to sitting on her own.  Katie has been very close for quite some time, but she just can't quite get past leaning on her hand for support.  I'm so proud of Maggie!!

The girls had their first spice today.  I gave them Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal baby food this morning.  I had to try it since cinnamon is my favorite spice.  It tasted just like an apple pie.  Mmmmmm.  Katie didn't like it as much as the other girls, but she still ate it.

RSV, Synagis and Maggie's first "words"

The March of Dimes has designated November Prematurity Awareness Month.  As you know, our girls were born prematurely.  During my pregnancy, I was healthy, the girls seemed healthy and I did not have any signs of premature labor.  Then - boom - out of nowhere, my water broke at 28 weeks 1 day.  I was admitted to the hospital where I was closely monitored for infection, signs of distress, preeclampsia, or other signs of premature labor.  I was given steroids to help the girls' lungs develop, but nothing is as good as staying in the womb.  The girls were born at 29 weeks 6 days after Maggie's placenta started to abrupt (it was her sac that broke as well).  Premature babies are at risk for many complications.  So far, it appears our girls are healthy.  *Knock on wood.*

RSV is one of the most significant threats to a premature baby.  Most infants and toddlers get RSV, but RSV can simply be too much for the lungs of a premature baby.  Seemingly healthy babies can suddenly become extremely ill and die from RSV.  While some of you already know that I have issues with vaccinations (we're following the Dr. Sears alternate vaccination schedule), I take RSV very seriously.  There is a drug called synagis that can protect a baby from RSV for 28-32 days.  It is extremely expensive (anywhere from $1,500 - $3,000 per shot; the dosage is based upon weight).  Needless to say, if insurance will not cover the cost of the shot, then it is cost prohibitive.  Synagis is given once a month for 5 months starting in November.  The girls each got one dose of it before they left the NICU last April.  The American Academy of Pediatrics provides guidelines for who should get synagis.  We were lucky that Maggie was eligible to receive it this year, and the insurance company agreed to cover all three girls because they are in the same house.  This morning, they received their first synagis shot of this RSV season.  I am so grateful that our insurance company is covering the shots.  The total cost of the shots will be between $22,500 - $45,000.  Here is a link to one of our friend's blogs.  Their boys, who are almost exactly one year older then our girls, were not eligible last year, and they contracted RSV.  Luckily, it was only a mild case.  Other families are not so lucky.


Some of you will be upset that I am being so protective of my girls during this RSV season, but I cannot and will not risk them contracting RSV.  This first winter poses the biggest risk.  Come Spring, we will all be out on the town exploring the world.  Until then, I appreciate your understanding my need to keep the girls isolated from RSV and the flu. I hope the links I have provided give some perspective. 

On a lighter note - Margaret has said her first "word."  She is babbling away today saying "da da."  It warmed Robin's heart!  The girls are also (and I know I've said this before) about to crawl.  Both Katie and Izzy can take one or two crawls forward before flopping on their stomachs.  Maggie has mastered "army" crawling.  She can drag herself just about anywhere.

Happy Halloween!!

As luck would have it, there is no snow this weekend.  I can't remember a time when we haven't seen one snowflake in Colorado by November.  What a strange year it has been.

We were able to get some great shots of the girls outside in their costumes today.  I know it's a day early, but we're not planning on taking them trick-or-treating this year.  Plus, the weather is so nice today, and tomorrow is football day!  They loved being outside in the grass.  I bought the girls 0-9 month costumes, but they certainly vary in size!  Maggie barely fit in hers.  I didn't want to dress them all the same, but I did want some sort of a theme.  I guess the theme ended up being plants - they are all very organic!


Katie - the flower:

Maggie - the chili pepper:

Izzy-B - the pea:

All three:

Katie seemed really confused because her sisters looked different:

Outside:

Katie kept eating the leaves:

Maggie's costume was so tight, I finally had to unbutton the top:

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Fall Pictures

In Colorado, you never know when the snow will begin to fly.  We've been known to have blizzards in early September.  So far this year - nothing!  That makes me nervous.  The mountains have just been hit hard, which is good.  All of this commentary leads me to the real reason for my post - fall pictures.  We've been debating when to take them.  Today I bought a pumpkin, the weather was nice and the leaves are falling.  What a perfect day for pictures.  I was afraid if we waited until next week, the lawn would be covered in snow.

The girls don't get outside too much.  It makes me sad, but it's a lot of work to get them ready to go out.  Next year, we will be out on the town a whole lot more than this year!  When we took them outside today, Katie just started laughing.  She laughed, and laughed and laughed.  It was so cute!

I'm excited that all three girls are able to sit up on their own (sorta).  It made setting up the pictures a lot easier. Maggie needed a little help - she used the pumpkin to lean on, but there is nothing propping them up from behind.

Here are some of my favorites:

A great big thank you to my former co-worker and friend Kathy who bought the bibs for the girls.  And, a great big what were you thinking to my husband for putting Maggie behind the pumpkin stem.  I couldn't see how much it was blocking her face from where I was standing.  In his defense, he was trying to hide the blue bumbo, the girls were getting cold and I was nagging him to hurry up!

Update: I'm almost afraid to type this, as I fear I will jinx myself, but Izzy has been going to bed without any problems for a few weeks now.  :-)

Maggie is sitting!

This is a very short post. 

After our weekly visit from the PT, Maggie sat for the first time today.  She can only stay sitting for less than 1 minute before she falls over, but she did it!  Every other time that I've tried to prop her up in a sitting position, she has fallen backwards.  I was so excited to see her progress.

Katie is VERY close to being able to get into a sitting position on her own.

8 Months

I can't believe it has been eight months already - two thirds of a year.  The girls are so amazing.  Every time they laugh, I can't help but laugh too.  Over the last month, they have started eating solid foods once a day, and they are all up on all fours rocking back and forth - crawling will be any day.  Margaret is always a little behind her sisters with meeting milestones, but she always gets there.  Despite this, sometimes I think she will crawl and walk first.  Katherine and Isabella have been rocking on all fours for a couple of weeks now.  Margaret just started doing it about 2 days ago, but I bet she'll actually crawl first.  She is my tortoise - slow and steady wins the race.  She's was the smallest at birth and she was the one who caused them all to be born so early, but she was the first one to come home from the hospital.  Earlier this week, I took Katherine to the dermatologist to check out the red mark on her cheek.  It is most likely a hemangioma, which should disappear in a few years.  Here are some pictures from our 8 month photo shoot.  The tutus and the shoes were made by my sister-in-law in France.

Katherine is very independent and observant, but loves to laugh.  She can sit unassisted.

Margaret is very smiley and happy, and also loves to laugh.

Isabella is very serious and cuddly.

Babies

The theme this week at the Trendy Treehouse is "Babies."  What an easy one for me!  Babies are abundant at my house.  This picture was taken in mid-May; the girls were almost 3 months old.  They're my three peas in a pod - the Usagani Triplets.

Check out the other entries here: