Utah Bound!

Even as I'm writing this, I CANNOT BELIEVE it's true.  Yes, we're moving to Utah!  If I'm being honest, I couldn't be more excited.  Back in April David was accepted into an Assistant Director program that we knew would eventually turn into a Director position with HCA.  I could not have DREAMED that a position would actually be open in Utah.  Let alone St. Mark's hospital where he worked for years.  In my opinion the stars have aligned and we'll be back HOME.  Now here's a little bit of bragging about my Mr Wonderful... Not only did St. Mark's hospital want him, but also a hospital in Vegas and a hospital here in Nashville!  Talk about a hot commodity. ;)

Now, I'm one to believe that everything happens for a reason.  I won't lie when I say that one of my first thoughts were, "Now why did we have to move to Nashville only to stay here a year?"  I missed out on A LOT in Utah.  Friends and family having babies, getting married, etc.  Not to mention the thousands of dollars my family had to spend in flights to see my babies.  Flights don't come cheap ya'll!

As I was thinking about this I started realizing just how many people I'm truly going to miss here in Nashville.  We've met some LIFELONG friends that I will hold so dear to my heart.  Ladies from church who'd come over every week to help with the babies.  They saved me from my breaking point.  A couple of young women from our church that'd come over after school.  One of which I'm stealing and taking with us to California and Utah! ;)  Our in home nurse who took such good care of us.  (We automatically qualified because of triplets.  Y'all are crazy if you think we had the money for an in home nurse. HA!)  She'd bring us diapers, formula for little Madelyn, her expert advice and so many laughs.  It breaks my heart that we'll be leaving her!!  Let's not forget the wonderful nurses and staff at my OB office.  With my pregnancy I was in there once a week, sometimes twice a week I swear.  I would not have survived my pregnancy without these ladies cheering me on!  One nurse in particular was like a second mom to me.  She came to our home after the babies were here, let me take a nap.  I love naps. :) I will cherish our friendship forever.  And the one and only Dr. Martin.  Oh my goodness, he has a heart of pure gold.  I've never felt more comfortable in someone's care.  I honestly felt like I was his only patient, which we all know is not true for an ob!  Not to mention he kinda saved my life.

I will be FOREVER grateful for the friendships we've made here in Nashville.  We'll be back on day.  And if you're ever in Utah, you always have a place to stay.

So, we're really moving to Utah.  Anyone want to know when?  Well, funny you should ask.  David starts the new job December 15th.  Moving with triplets sounds like FAR too much work so instead we're flying me and the babies home to Sacramento on December 4th.  WHAT?!?!  Yeah that's in like 17 days.  Yes, I might have a panic attack.  Picture us walking through the airport pushing a single stroller, double stroller, carrying 3 car seats and bases, AND luggage for a month.  Not to mention getting to the airport at 4am, the almost 7hr flight ahead of us, oh and let's not forget I'll need to pump.  So wake up at 2am?  ... Then secretively pump on the plane again?  Yes, please pray for us.

And that's that.  David will be starting his new job, living with a friend, and trying to find us a home.  We'll hopefully (assuming we find a place to live) be in Utah County shortly after Christmas.

... That's another thing... Christmas.  I was SO looking forward to spending it with David's parents in Missouri!  We've had such a fun couple of visits and have truly LOVED having them closer to us.  For those of you that don't know, this year they moved from Alaska to Missouri.  They have some wonderful property where they're going to building their home.  Can't wait for the many memories to come!!!!

Is it too soon to start packing?  Maybe I'll just start making lists of everything we'll need to bring...

happy S I X months little ones

First of all, where has the time gone?  There's NO WAY it has been six whole months.  This has been the fastest, hardest, most fun 6 months of my life.  My eyes still well up with tears at every milestone, every smile, every giggle, every interaction. Y E S they've started interacting with each other, which is the very best.  Yesterday they were all laying on the floor with Gavin in the middle.  Both of the girls were rolling in towards him.  Madelyn starting 'cooing' and Gavin looked right at her while she was talking and got the BIGGEST grin on his face.  It was the most adorable thing I've ever seen. 

Some of my favorite milestones thus far...

Everyone sleeps 10-12 hours a night... Most nights.  

Madelyn has T W O teeth.  

Gavin learned how to squeal and scream.  He does it all day long.

They LOVE baby Einstein videos. I go to bed with the songs stuck in my head. Every night.

Aurora is the most smiley little girl you'd ever meet.

All of them have the CUTEST little giggles.  Ever.

Madelyn finally found her voice and started talking this week.  It's the cutest raspy little sound.

They can all roll from tummy to back.

Aurora likes to roll from back to tummy.  

They LOVE when their daddy talks to them.  The stare at his face so intently.

Madelyn is a total daddy's girl.  When he holds her she likes to rub her face on his scruff.

They all are enjoying some solid foods.

They all love to stand and sit up... with some help of course.

Aurora loves to look at herself in the mirror. :)

Gavin loves to hold daddy's hand.

Madelyn is the prima donna.  She demands attention.

Gavin is the funny, chill one.  He keeps us laughing.  

Aurora is so so sweet and cuddly.  She's the most even tempered.  (Now that she's not colicy! Halelujah!) 

Second of all, my heart is literally about to BURST looking at some of their first photos.  Please enjoy me reminiscing on their first few photos.  

Aurora

 Madelyn

Gavin

Looking at these pictures brings back a whirlwind of emotions.  (Literally I'm crying as I'm typing this...)  I will never ever ever forget being scared to death on the operating table, then the relief as I hear each one of them let out their first cry.  I will never forget the overwhelming feeling of love as they hold them up to my face.  I will never forget how crushed and sad I was that I couldn't see them for 24 hours after they were born (because of the medication I was on).  I kept sending David up to take more pictures.  :) I will never forget how determined I was to walk that first night.  The pain I felt was immense, but I knew I had to do it in order to go upstairs to see them the next day.  I will never forget the relief when I heard that there were no major complications, just a little oxygen, cpap, feeding tube and bili lights.  I will never forget the sadness that came over me when they were in their little incubators (that's not what they are, I know) and I wasn't able to pick them up.  I remember Maddie was screaming and crying but I couldn't do a dang thing about it.  I wasn't allowed to put my hands in there.  I will never forget the first time I held each one of them.  I never wanted it to end.  But unfortunately they could only be out for only 30 - 60 mins a day.  Each time I had to lay them back down it broke my heart.  I will never forget how frustrating it was dealing with all the chords and beeps 24hrs a day.  Haha.  I will never forget the first time we were allowed to put real clothes on them... how cute and precious they all looked.  I will never forget how excited I was when the nurses FINALLY told me there was a chance they'd be discharged in a few days.  The nurses never wanted to say, because they don't want parents to get their hopes up.  Everytime we'd ask they'd say "typically they'll be discharged around their due date."  (Ya'll they came home 5 weeks before their due date.)  

These are just a few moments that I will indeed cherish for the rest of my life.  Being a mother is hands down the most incredible feeling in the whole wide world.

Now some pictures to see just how far they've come...

Aurora

Gavin

 Madelyn

My { w o n d e r f u l } new reality

Today has been a weird morning.  David went back to work after having 3 weeks off.  Let's talk about that for a second... Who seriously gets to spend 3 SOLID weeks with their significant other?  It was exactly what we needed.  Laughing, having fun, and enjoying our new family.  I've always said David is the best husband ever.  (Sorry I'm not sorry if that annoys you.)  The past 3 weeks he proved it to me again and again every day.  Letting me sleep in.  Making me breakfast... and lunch.  Telling me to go to Target to take a break.  Washing the bottles after every feed.  Laundry and dishes.  AND (best of all) not playing xbox... AT ALL!!!!! Ha!  S E R I O U S L Y , the list goes on and on.  I was spoiled rotten.  He's the most selfless guy in the world.  While he was home we played around with their sleeping schedule a bit.  They now are in their cribs from 8pm - 8am!  Whether it's sleeping, cooing, or crying they stay put.  Some nights I only have to give pacifiers a couple times, other nights it's like every 20 mins for hours and hours.  But it's working and they're getting better.
Now to the weird part.  Everyone has gone back to work except for me!  It's just donning on me that for the first time in oh, forever, I don't have a full time job.  I don't have school.  I don't work 40+ hours a week in an office that plays the same music over and over and over.  I don't have timed lunch break.  I don't have to workout in the evenings.... Let's be honest, I am not a morning person.  I don't have to get ready if I don't want to.  You guys, I am finally doing my dream job.  I am a MOM.  Yes it's more that 40 hours a week.  Yes I now have 3 bosses who are quite demanding.  But it's what I've always dreamed of.  For years I just wanted to be a mom.  I wanted the chaos and demanding schedule.  I prayed for the smiles and 'coos'.  For some of you, that's probably really lame.  For me, I'm finally complete.  I'm living the life I've always wanted.  This is what I was born to do.  Being a mom is my calling in life... Now if only I could talk David into having more.  Haha.  Kidding... Maybe. :)

Hospital Photos

I seriously cannot say enough wonderful things about our photographer.  I'm telling you, she's incredible!! Photography by Sarah Clark :)
http://photographybysarahclark.com/blog/

Aurora Leigh

Gavin David

Madelyn Mae

"I'm living with nodes, but I'm a survivor."

"I'm living with nodes, but I'm a survivor." Thanks for that Pitch Perfect.

Remember that one time I almost bled to death. Well I had a ct scan while I was in the hospital and it just happened to catch my thyroid. One side of my thyroid was significantly larger than the other and I needed to have an ultrasound done on it. Turns out I have 4 nodes on my thyroid. Today I'm back in the hospital (man I hate this place) getting a biopsy done on them. My doctor said that I shouldn't worry at all. Supposedly thyroid nodes are very common among adults and 95% of the time they aren't cancerous.

So why am I all the sudden worried? Gah! It's because I'm a mom now. I have people that depend on me. And maybe I'm a little hormonal because my body is still adjusting. Hello, I did just give birth to three babies. My body is a little out of whack. Plus the last two months I haven't had the best track record with hospitals.  So I'm letting myself be a little emotional. I'm writing this as I'm sitting at the hospital waiting to get called back... Thinking of my dear sweet babies at home with nana. I'm sure just as the doctor said, everything will be fine... It's nothing to worry about.

Just breath Allyson. Everything will be fine.

Update: The nodes are non-cancerous.  :)

Happy 1 month my angels!

I cannot believe my babies are one month old!!  They are all home and happy as ever.  Right now we're on a 3 hour feeding schedule.  I get up to pump 30 mins before they eat.  Unfortunately since they're premies they don't latch very well for breastfeeding.  So they're bottle fed my milk until we get breastfeeding down.  To be honest, I'm not 100% positive that I want to exclusively breastfeed. Yeah sure pumping isn't the greatest thing in the whole wide world, but at least people can help bottle feed them!  So we'll see what we end up doing long term.  My goal is to pump/breastfeed for 1 year... So far I'm one month down!  Wooohoo! Haha.

Can I just say that my mom is a SAINT!  Oh my goodness, we are so so lucky to have her here helping us.  She's a HUGE help!  Right now the routine is I do all of the night feedings while she sleeps, then I wake her up at 8am while I sleep for a few hours.  I'm so so lucky that she's going to be here until mid August. Hopefully we can get them on a little longer sleeping schedule by then.  Because eating every 3 hours only leaves about an hour - an hour and a half of sleep/down time in between... Especially with me pumping 30 mins prior.  I'll tell you what though, it's totally worth it.  Yes, you can survive on pure adrenaline.  I did for 5 days before my mom got here!  Maybe got 3 hours of sleep total per day.  Motherhood is the greatest thing in the whole wide world.

One month stats... Aurora weighs 5 pounds 4 ounces (born at 3 pounds 12 ounces)!!  Gavin weighs 6 pounds 3 ounces (born at 4 pounds 6 ounces)!!  Madelyn weighs 5 pounds 2 ounces (born at 4 pounds 2 ounces)!!

These are the photos I took on their actually 1 month.  I thought before the feeding would be best that way they're awake.  HA - think again.  Three hungry fussy babies is what I got.

Gavin trying to eat Aurora's head

HA - it just makes me laugh

 The next day I tried again.  This time it was after the feeding.  Much happier babies!

Aurora

Gavin

 Madelyn

We're HOME!!!

I am such a happy momma!  Everyone is home and happy!  Gavin and Aurora got to come home on Saturday.  Madelyn came home Monday.  So my babies that were born at 31 weeks spent 25, 25, and 27 days in the NICU.  I find this quite incredible.  They all came home before they were 36 weeks.  I can attest to you that prayers were answered.  My whole entire pregnancy I prayed for healthy babies with a short NICU stay.   I couldn't have asked for healthier babies.

Last group picture all together before we took Gavin and Aurora home!

(Madelyn, Gavin, Aurora)

 Aurora giving Madelyn a pep-talk to get her home soon!

Gavin & Aurora... Ps these two were head to head in my belly.  

I think it's quite funny they're coming home together!

We're all home and HAPPY!!!