WE ARE ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my word, oh my word! We have survived one entire year of having triplets. It just doesn't seem possible that we have had one Christmas, one New Years, one 4th of July, one Kaitlyn birthday, one Caleb birthday all with the girls. Hasn't it been longer then that? Ha! Okay, it feels like it.

So, in honor of their birthday here's a comparison:

On 11/16/06:

12:00 AM - finished my last meal - no more eating for hours

On 11/16/07:

12:00 AM - just getting into bed after talking to my parents who did make it in safely though a bit delayed.

On 11/16/06:

7:00 AM - tons of nurses in my room, lots of discussion about an IV, more nurses promising me I could rest but here they were bugging me again. Oh, and I was on the contraction monitor and consistently contracting.

On 11/16/07:

7:00 AM - not up yet - I get up at 7:30 to get Kaitlyn and Caleb ready for school - they made it on time again today - go me!

2006

10:00 AM - still waiting, still no IV - no one could figure out if I needed a huge needle or a small needle. The big needle meant I wanted some anesthesia which meant the nurse couldn't do it and we had to wait for an anesthesiologist to numb the area first. Also, being bugged by people drawing blood over and over because they forgot a test. And the girl drawing the blood just wouldn't leave because oh my word! I was having triplets.

2007

10:00 AM - giving the triplets a few birthday presents. Don't they just love it?



2006

11:00 AM - having lots of contractions - the monitor is constantly spiking and I'm beginning to feel them. Go figure I'd have consistent contractions for the first time the day of my scheduled C-section. I was checked - no dilation :( I am also starving and very thirsty. Let me tell you - I slowly drank that water to take my Synthroid - it was all I got.

2007

11:00 AM - eating a very good Thanksgiving meal at Kaitlyn and Caleb's school. Lots of turkey, mashed potatoes and cranberries. Lots of dessert and drinks too. Definitely not hungry or thirsty :)









2006

12:00 PM - by this point I had been wheeled out of my room and placed into a prep area before my C-section. Still on the contraction monitor and still contracting. My scheduled time was noon but kept getting put off due to emergency C-sections. Finally got my IV and ended up being the small needle so felt stupid getting anesthesia. Wanted to jump the girl two curtains down from me when her husband came to complain to the doctors that his wife was waiting to give birth. I was about to give birth to triplets and had been in that stupid hospital for 6 weeks - I was going first!! Also got asked a few times by the doctor if extra people could sit in to watch a multiples delivery.

2007

12:00 PM - heading home for the week after our meal to put the girls down for a nap and take a small "break".

2006

2:00 PM - in the surgical suite and feeling fine with my spinal since I can't feel anything from my chest down. Thankfully I couldn't see my huge stomach out there for everyone to see!

2:12 PM - Julianna Mabel is born
2:13 PM - Rachel Gabrielle is born
2:16 PM - Alyssa Elaine is born





2007

2:00 PM - running errands with my dad for tomorrow's birthday party while the girls napped.

2006

4:00 PM - babies beat me to the recovery area but I soon follow and am out of it completely. Food is far from my mind! I do remember being wheeled down the hallways with all three babies across my chest. This was my first taste of being stared at by other people as we certainly drew a crowd with that scene.

2007

4:00 PM - getting the babies up from nap to eat their bottles - this is pretty much their last day on formula - thank God! - now we have to work on getting them to eat more "people" food :) Might be cheaper but those bottles are sooo convenient.

2006

6:00 PM - I don't remember as much of the evening as I should - I was in a lot of pain - I know that Kirk let everyone know about the babies and that they were doing fine and eating well.

2007

6:00 PM - Grandpa and Grandma gave the girls their gifts - they also opened gifts from their uncles and soon-to-be aunt. They liked the riding zebra but Alyssa liked it the best :)









2006

8:00 PM - I'm exhausted, they've already brought the babies in a few times but there's no way I can nurse them so we're feeding them bottles. Still in my bed and very swollen. Quite out of it and just so tired. Slowly beginning to drink liquid.

2007

8:00 PM - Singing Happy Birthday to the girls. They had a small cake since the big party is actually tomorrow but they seemed to really enjoy it!

Before Cake:



After Cake:







We survived a whole year with 5 kids! Now we have to get through their party tomorrow! And another year after that...

Last Day

Today is the girls last day before they're one. I can't help but think about where I was last year. Spending my last day pregnant in the hospital. The thought of having them out was both exciting and terrifying. My mom was in the air heading back from Florida after my grandmother's funeral. Strangely she'll be in the air tonight flying to see us once again so she can be here for the girl's first birthday tomorrow.

As I look back over the past year I can't believe how far we've come. I also can't believe how cranky these girls still are! I spend a lot of my day running away from them as they crawl after me crying. Even Julianna is very attached - mostly to my jewelry though - she'd like to rip that off my neck :) She's also become very attached to a stuffed tiger - I'll try to get a picture of that soon.

No one is truly walking yet. They all will take a step or two but only if they're not paying attention. I'm hoping someone will take more steps next week when Grandma and Grandpa are here. Knowing then they'll all start walking right after they leave.

And that's where we are today, this birthday eve. I am as anxious and excited as I was a year ago as I think of a new year ahead. At least this year I don't have a doctor asking me to wait another week :) And I'm physically much more comfortable which I am certainly happy about.

When I post again the girls will be one. I promise to take lots of pictures tomorrow to document their big day and then again on Saturday when we celebrate the first year with family and friends. A big thanks to everyone who has helped to get us this far. We couldn't have made it without your prayers and support!

I Wouldn't Have Missed This For The World

Today was Caleb's 4th Birthday and I can't even believe a year has passed since we spent his birthday in my hospital room watching the new Cars DVD. I ordered him balloons from the guest shop and we crammed ourselves on that hospital bed and chair. Not an ideal situation.

But this year I was here. Home with my son in the morning while he opened his gifts from mom and dad. And at his birthday party in the evening. This year I was not missing a thing!

Kirk says twenty years from now Caleb will look back and think he had an awful childhood because he's never smiling in pictures but I do think he had a wonderful day. I think we got a few smiles in there.

The first few pictures are from his birthday at home. He got some new toys and a desk for his room. The rest of the pictures are from The Bear Mill and Pickle Bob's. It was a great place for a party and all the kids seemed to enjoy it :)

Happy 4th Birthday Caleb. Mommy and Daddy love you so much!

Picture Day Take Two

So, finally, in the middle of the night just about I have the pictures from our photo shoot from last week. Since it's so late I have no time to do a slide show or anything fun so enjoy them as you scroll down :) Sorry!

And the family picture will be our Christmas card so everyone will get a copy.

































No, the color isn't off - it's a special shading - sepia I think. And sorry about Rachel, she just wouldn't smile.

We Have a Winner!

We have a winner in the walking contest - well, right now just the stepping contest. Rachel took two steps in a row yesterday on her own. Surprisingly she seems to be the most stable on her feet while Alyssa, who also took a step of her own, is our fastest cruiser.

I think we all were banking on Julianna being first but she is too busy being crazy (and falling) that she doesn't have the desire to try. She's been the more mechanical one lately. Everytime I unbuckle her from her carseat or highchair she begins to play with the buckles and tries to put them back together. So funny. She has also begun playing peek-a-boo. Hopefully I'll get some video of that soon.

Haven't gotten the pictures on the computer yet but they are great and I bought too many. Christmas for family is covered :) Sorry to spoil the surprise!

And Julianna is doing fine - the doctor cleared her from everything - wound is fine, no concussion. I could've told them that and saved myself $15 but better safe then sorry I guess.

A Disastrous Day!

Also known as Family Picture Day. Also known as Attack-of-the-Shoes Day. Also known as Julianna's-First-Trip-to-the-ER Day.

Thank God this occurred after the pictures:



So, our day was a little more crazy then originally planned and if the Nelson's don't make enough of a scene wherever we go we made even more of one tonight.

The day started out simple enough. I actually got to get my hair done and so did Kaitlyn so we'd look good for our family Christmas pictures/triplet's 1st birthday pictures/Caleb's 4th birthday pictures.

After searching desperately for the 6th baby shoe for like an hour we got there on time. The biggest problem with triplet clothing is that if you are missing just one piece the whole thing goes out the window. No one can wear shoes if we can only find 5 out of 6 shoes!!

So, then we find all 6 shoes but let me tell you - the babies know how to get those things off in a hurry! Kirk and I and the two picture people (ha - literally - we went to the Picture People) chased the babies around and most of the time it was to put their shoes on. Eventually we dumped the whole shoe idea and after I changed them into their birthday outfits was barred by Kirk to even try their birthday shoes. So, I am ecstatic at the picture results but very bummed that they do not have adorable little shoes on in most of the pictures. Please forgive me for that.

When we went back to check out our pictures we found out that they were great and we were all set to buy a bunch when Julianna fell over and hit the bottom of the stool we were sitting on. When I picked her up her head had a huge gash. The nice people from the Picture People called 9-1-1 and after careful examination we all determined that she would be okay. However, to be on the safe side and to see whether or not she needed stitches she was taken, very slowly, by ambulance to Prince William Hospital. Kirk rode with her (on the stretcher too - that was cute) and I dragged all 4 kids behind them.

Thankfully by friend JoRonda was able to step in and help with the four so I could hang out with Julianna and help hold her down while they put "super glue" - you know that hospital glue stuff - on her forehead. She didn't need stitches and as you can see, she is fine:



This is Kirk trying to corral her while the "numbing medicine" took effect - that's what on her forehead.



Completely back to normal. Obviously no concussion. Just wanted to prove to those of us who didn't know that Julianna is certainly the rough and tumble one in the pack! And now, officially, all three girls have been treated by Prince William Hospital this year.



On a side note, if you ever want pictures done the Manassas Picture People are awesome. They called 9-1-1, held babies while we talked to like 12 paramedics (do they have nothing better to do?), one of them helped me to the car while Kirk was off on the stretcher, oh, and they took really good pictures which I was hoping to post here but don't have yet but do plan to go back and buy very soon :)

Once Again, It's November

I cannot believe it! November has come around again! Of course, this happens every year. Mentally I understand this but truly to be here again is amazing. Last year today I was very depressed. You probably figured that out through my blogging but truly, sitting in that room, trapped and realizing that I would now have 4 children in the same month was depressing and overwhelming.

At least this year I have the knowledge already that the triplets would not be born on Caleb's birthday and at the least they would be a few days apart. I am grateful for this but as I look ahead to the next 16 days I am once again a bit overwhelmed! I have to plan 2 birthday parties and somehow prepare for Thanksgiving and keep up with school.

I don't think we are ever truly prepared for all of our parental duties but seriously, did this month have to be so overwhelming??

Anyway, a few things for fun:

On the way to school I was asked by Kaitlyn: "What does p-l-a-n-k-t-o-n spell?" You have the ability to see it all together, I had to hear it from the back row, over the talking babies and then I'm wondering why in the world I'm even being asked this question!

As we pull into the driveway Caleb tells me that he's praying that bugs do not take over the world. What?! "Mom, I've very thankful for spiders and I pray that they don't die because they eat bugs!" Okay. "Bats eat mosquitos so they're good. We don't want the bugs to take over the world." Of course we don't, I concede as I close the garage door and unload 4 kids from the van.

And the babies: they are as cranky as ever. They can say "dada" and "mama" but they don't yet know who is who but at their level as they crawl around any leg is good for pulling up and yelling to be held. Julianna is still amazingly loud - it's a gift!

Teeth count:

Julianna - getting #7 - another bottom tooth has broken through!
Rachel - getting #4 - I can't believe she is finally catching up.
Alyssa - still just 4 but she shows them off every chance she gets.
Kaitlyn - she is on the losing end :) Down another one last night at Chuck E. Cheese
Caleb - all his baby teeth - nothing to report.

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Today is Grandma Hildebrandt's birthday and I wanted to wish her a very, very happy birthday. A year ago today I was sitting in the hospital hoping and wishing the girls would have been born today to share a birthday with her. Unfortunately that didn't happen and the girls (or I) held on another 19 days. Oh yea, the countdown to their birthday is in full swing. The countdown to Grandma and Grandpa's visit is also on and will coincide with the babies. Yea, a week of back up - I'm so excited. Oh, and there's Thanksgiving. At least this one I won't be in massive pain recovering from a C-section.

And a little bit late - pictures from the kid's spirit week. They had a great time last week and also had a great Friday night at Family Fun Night. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera and I am hugely disappointed. Anyway, here's the rest of the week except for Monday which was crazy hair day. Unfortunately, Kaitlyn's hair didn't look much different that it usually does (she has her mom's hair) and Caleb refused to let me do anything to his hair so there really wasn't much of a picture opportunity.

And again a big Happy Birthday to my Mom!! I love her so much and am thankful for her every day. I also miss her a lot since she's so far away...

Adding Pictures

Here's my pictures from the weekend now that the photo upload is working...

The girls at Toy Box Farm:



First time on a moon bounce...



Julianna (Aunt Christina has dubbed her the "Cute Brute")



Rachel with her famous model pout.



And here's Alyssa on the moonbounce because she refused to sit still on the ground - I'm pretty sure the "princess" hated the grass :)



Kaitlyn and Caleb (the sun was in his eyes so he wouldn't cooperate)



Kirk with Alyssa and Julianna at Mrs. G's fall party.



Rachel having fun - at least there's a smile this time!



Trying to get a picture of Kirk's pumpkin - it's the Superman one on the left.

I Love Fall

Most of you know that we don't celebrate Halloween but that doesn't mean that I don't thoroughly enjoy all the festivities associated with this time of year. I love pumpkin patches and hay rides and fall parks.

Today we got to enjoy a few more things about fall at another fall park and a friend's house for pumpkin carving/chili eating contests. Kirk didn't win, I mean the kid's pumpkin didn't win but it looked great :)

I am making an attempt to upload pictures but Blogspot is having trouble getting them to upload so I will try again later this week.

Please check back - this week is Crazy Week at Kaitlyn and Caleb's school where they have lots of fun dress-up days to celebrate fall and I will be taking pictures of them as well. I missed this week last year because I was in the hospital so I am excited to be home for it this year. Hopefully we'll get this thing up and working!

26 more days to go till 1 year (still looking for a location for their big party...)

The Countdown Begins...

It's official. The girls are 11 months old which means in just 31 (long) days they will be 1 years old and it officially means that I will have survived one entire year of having triplets. This I can't believe.

A year ago I knew my 36 week mark and was counting down to that praying every day that they will come earlier. This year I know better. These girls are stubborn and determined. That certainly hasn't changed!

Official accomplishments at 11 months:

Julianna: 6 teeth, able to giggle and laugh at anything, can also shake toys, is willing to fall out of anything, has tipped over chairs and swimming floatation devices just by leaning over, cannot walk but is trying very, very hard.

Rachel: 2 teeth, has the hugest smile I've ever seen as well as the largest blue eyes, these are scary big still, still the smallest but is also into everything, would prefer to be thrown in the air and worn on my head as a hat - gets a giggle every time, loves to climb especially on me, cannot walk but is also trying very, very hard.

Alyssa: 4 teeth, the quietest and clingiest by far, has an amazing ability to crawl after me in tears, head down, wailing but she knows where I am and will find me, if she cannot find me she can sit in the middle of any floor and wail, very loudly. Loves her big sister and laughs when she is funny, still looks a lot like Caleb, very much the baby of the family. Cannot walk but does not care, she can stand very well though and sits on her princess butt with care.

Those are my girls. They are so different and so alike. The countdown to the birthday and the party have begun. As well as the walking. We'll see who does it first and what they accomplish in the next month. Maybe Rachel will get some more teeth...

Teddy Bear Picnic and A Walk Around the Block

For some reason my life goes from uneventful with nothing to post about to lots of stuff in one day. I guess that's how life works.

So, today Caleb's class had a Teddy Bear Picnic which was very cute. His teacher had all the kids bring their favorite teddy bear and then they made PB&J sandwiches after turning the bread into teddy bears. It was very cute. Of course, Caleb had to bring the biggest bear but he looked adorable!

Caleb with his HUGE teddy bear!



Caleb eating his fun lunch...



And tonight we got to do something we've done before but not quite like this. Last night we picked up from another mom something I've been wanting for a long time - a triplet wagon! The girls had a great time though since it's an older model it doesn't have seatbelts to hold them - a fact the girls greatly exploited - except Alyssa who hunkered down and made sure she was no where near the edge. Julianna, of course, managed to find a way to fall out head first while we were at a stop.

Check out how cute they are!

The girls on their way out for a walk:






I had to get a shot of Alyssa hunkered down in the seat - it was very cute - she enjoyed her view from there...



I tried to get a shot of the other two being crazy - no, it wasn't that dark the flash just made it look like the middle of the night. Hate that...

Pumpkinville 2007

Today the girls had their first trip to a pumpkin patch. I had their outfits all set but of course, they were orange sweater jumpers with long sleeved shirts with matching tights and boots. A little too warm for this weather! Oh well, red is a fall color too :)

Next time they will be decked out in their fall clothes and just maybe we'll let them out of their stroller long enough to take pictures of them with bigger pumpkins. Maybe not...

First Game

So, today is an excellent example of me not being able to be in three places at once. Try as I may I have not been able to clone myself into more than one person. Or grow a third arm... Well, you get the idea.

Anyway, today was Kaitlyn's very first game that she was set to cheerlead at. That was at 4 and I had to be somewhere else at 3. I finished as quick as I could but the 45 minute drive to her game meant I was to arrive just as they were leaving. Yep, missed everything.

Got back to the school in time to pick her up. She was fine with it but I was very sad to miss her first cheerleading experience. Instead of first-hand pictures I took some shots by the front door. Of course she looked adorable and posed very well for me. I had to say she was a great sport about the whole thing.

Caleb rode with me and was very sad to miss his sister doing her cheers. He also did very well and fell asleep for the whole ride home. Made it very quiet for me as I'm pretty sure I'd already heard "Mommy" or "Mom" about a thousand times today :)





Next pictures of her cheering will be at the actual game, I promise!!

Last Year

On this day last year I began having contractions and Kirk rushed me to the hospital to have them stopped. At the time I thought the girls birth was close. Maybe not that day but surely very soon after.

Last year today I was admitted to the hospital and spent the night in a labor and delivery room. I got no sleep and was on monitors and IV's. By the next day they decided I wasn't in labor would would be staying till I gave birth.

Last year today was very hard. I had to leave my family behind to try and save three little babies I didn't even know.

As I approach the baby's first birthday next month my mind is constantly realizing where I was a year ago and just how far I've come.

A year ago...



Today...



I am soooo grateful to be on this side of things! The girls are getting more fun and more active. Instead of sitting in a bed waiting and worrying and wondering what things will be like with three babies, I almost never sit down to wait or worry but I do still wonder what it will be like next year :)

As for the picture I got these cool blocks that are A, B and C but the girls were not very cooperative so you can't see the A. Sorry!

The Truth About Triplets

So many people stop me in the store these days and they want to ask me about the babies and how they are, etc. An interesting comment I usually get is "just wait till they're moving in all different directions." It got me thinking that there are a few triplets myths out there so here's a little bit of the truth:

1. Triplets do not go in three different directions - they go in one - mine.

2. I do not need 3 of every toy except for the good ones - like my car keys, my remote controls and my home phone.

3. Large toys are a must because all three want the same thing at the same time. The only problem is that no toy is truly big enough because they all want the same spot no matter what.

4. Crying rarely means that a child is injured. It usually means:

a. "One of these other babies has climbed on top of me - get her off!"

b. "I can't find you and I must, absolutely have you and see you right now, mommy."

5. The only one feeling guilty about not spending quality time with each baby is me. They are perfectly content to fight each other over my lap and don't even notice they have sisters except:

a. at 7 AM when they are all supposed to be asleep

b. when one sister is on top of another (see #3)

6. Be very careful when distracting one baby with a toy it will most likely backfire and attract both of the other babies resulting in another fight leading to the crying you were trying to avoid in the first place!

7. Every once in a while they do notice each other in a cute way and giggle and grin at each other and attempt to play together. These are the fun times that make me sit back and smile at them. So cute.

And those are a few thoughts about caring for triplets. The past two weeks have been a bit rough since the girls have been extra cranky. Thankfully they are all feeling better but the crying hasn't stopped.

On the one hand this age is much easier for me because they will sit and play with toys and they can move around to get to other toys that they like. On the other hand I am usually the thing that they like the most and would much rather sit on my lap or have me hold them and when one wants me, they all do.

Here's to surviving yet another another month and another stage of triplet girls!