fun weddings and a food poisoning

Uncle Kurt and Aunt Kelly's wedding was last weekend, the 21st, and it was quite an adventure for the Huber gang. Mike and I were in the wedding and Christina, our nanny/babysitter, came with us to watch the boys and help run baby interference. The day went smoothly overall, although I was very nervous and a bit tense, not only because it was the boys' first big group outing but also because it was my first big group outing post pregnancy body and all...a bit nerve racking for all of us. Chris is very good with the boys though and she knows how to keep them happy and Grandma and Grandpa and Mike, daddy, were on hand to help out at the times when I had to be elsewhere getting ready or taking pictures. The wedding was beautiful and Kurt and Kelly looked amazing and happy. Mike and I had a great time and after the ceremony and pictures, the boys' were transferred (thanks Tim and Miro) to Grandma Debbie and Grandpa Tom and went home to Royal Oak for the night so that Mike and I could have a night off. It was a wonderful evening and very quiet...but we greatly appreciated the night off. The boys seemed to have a good time and slept well that night for Grandma and Grandpa.

The Huber Family All Dressed Up

The Bride and Groom

Grandma Carol and The Boys

Unfortunately Saturday night, during our night off, the effects of food poisoning, we're not sure what from, hit me and Mike and mine continued through to Wednesday. Needless to say I was in bad, bad shape. I got really dehydrated and my milk supply dropped off greatly and I was pretty much completely useless Sunday and Monday and part of Tuesday. Mike was feeling bad too so he had to stay home Monday, but he really stepped up and took over the boys most of the time and our friends chipped in (thanks Miro, Jason and Christina) and Tom and Debbie came over to help us out too. Thankfully I started to get my energy and some hydration back by Wednesday and by the end of the week I was tired but getting back to normal. It has been a challenge to get my milk supply back up, it went down to 20 ounces from 80 ounces, but it is getting there, I have had 60 ounces or so the past few days.

gas leaks and teething and rodents, oh my

I'm sorry I have been off the blog-dar lately but we have had a busy, busy couple of weeks....

So two Tuesdays ago, June 17th I guess it was, I spent the night at my mom's with the babies because Mike went to my brother's bachelor party and I wanted to let him get some sleep afterwards because he had to work on Wednesday. It was a relatively good night and Kelly, my brother's then fiance, now wife, got up to help me feed the boys and she was a huge help to me and she got to bond with the boys which was wonderful. Well Wednesday afternoon I decided it was time to pack up and go home so I quick fed the boys and got them to sleep and packed them into their car seats. On the drive home they were VERY uncooperative. It started out quiet and ended in 20 minutes of screaming baby hysterics...not exactly stress free driving, its a really in your face blood pressure test if you ever need one...so we get home and Zach is red faced and squawking and Konrad is pissed as well, Mikey is starting to get grumpy. I unpack the babies first, then the cooler with the bottles in it, then the diaper bags and over night bags. Then I come back into the house and start undoing crying babies and taking them out of their car seats and start heating up bottles so that I can feed them and quiet them down. As I am spastically running around the house, I smell a gas smell. Now I might panic but their are workers down the street from Consumer energy and I think, maybe its them. Its kind of cold in the house because we have been gone for a few days so I turn up the heat and the furnace kicks in and then the gas smell is everywhere and its strong. I call the gas company and attempt to have a conversation with them with my screaming triplets in the background and they tell me to get out of the house immediately...I am thinking umm I have hungry triplets...but then hungry screaming triplets is better than crispy blown up family...so I quick grab the just warmed bottles and the diaper bag and the car keys and repack up the now truly hysterical babies back into their car seats- pictures beet red little faces with arms and legs a swinging and howling screaming and crying from all three little mouths, yup thats me and my babies. I scramble to get me, the babies and all of our crap out into the drive way and I get the stroller out of the car and I pack them up. Now it is about 4pm, my neighbors aren't home, I just came from my moms house in Brighton and I don't really want to drive back with the babies in their current state of hysteria, Tom and Debbie, Mike's parents aren't home yet and I can't go in the house...oh yeah and its about to rain and like 60 degrees outside...we'll be there in the next 45 minutes ma'am they say...45 minutes with this...good lord! So I call Mike and he starts home, then the neighbors get home a few minutes later and I ask her if I can bring my screaming trio into her house and she bravely says yes. I get the babies into her house, calmed down and fed (time elapsed 20 minutes) and then Mike pulls up and then the gas company guy pulls up. The gas guy goes into the house with Mike and he tells us that we have a gas leak...but its 5:15 and he's off the clock and its "not that big of a leak" so we can wait to hire somebody in the morning to come fix it because the leak is on our pipe not his/the gas company's...umm okay...I am not taking my babies back into a house with a gas leak. So the neighbor's husband hears about our little problem and just happens to be a VERY handy guy and he goes over to our house with Mike and airs out the place and fixes the gas leak...yay, crisis averted, day saved.

Just about this time, Tom and Debbie arrive to the scene, Mike had called them when I called him and we all pile back into the house with the babies and all of our crap and we sit down to do another round of feedings and try to relax a bit. Just when I start to breath again and calm down I hear a scrabbling noise over my head in the ceiling...I look at Tom, he looks at me and I say "umm thats not squirrels on the roof, is it" and he says probably not. Now we just happen to have infrared cameras for looking at the babies at night and so Tom goes and gets one and wires it up into the attic and we watch and wait. I'm thinking that there is now way we will see something and hoping we don't see anything and about 5 minutes in a rodent of unusual size goes wondering past the camera-no shit-a rat or mouse or whatever just goes walking past..needless to say I start screaming and Tom starts laughing and Mike stomps into the kitchen all pissed because now that we know they are here we actually have to deal with them. Now normally if you told me that there were mice or rats above my head I would be going to a hotel but you see we just had a gas leak a couple of hours earlier and before that I was at my moms and the idea of packing again and piling the boys into the car again was shall we say not at all appealing. So we stay home and Tom says that he will come back the next day and start setting traps and assessing the problem...crisis delayed and hopefully averted, (a slightly less heart felt) yay.

So evening comes and goes and its 10pm and Mikey is being down right awnry. He won't sit still he won't eat, he won't suck a binky and he is whiney, oh so whiney. Trying to feed him is like trying to feed a snake, he is bucking and squirming and whining. I know he's hungry, he hasn't eaten in quite a while and I just can't figure out what the heck is wrong. He is starting to calm down just a little bit when the pacifier pops out of his mouth and onto the floor. While I am waiting for Mike to go and wash it off I stick my nuckle/finger in his mouth like any desperate parent might do...and I feel teeth...TEETH?? is such a thing possible on a 4.5 month old or really a 2.5 month old? apparently yes because when I looked in his mouth there were in fact two little bottom teeth trying to poke through. No wonder he is grumpy...now of course no one believed me in the days following when I said that he was teething but when they looked in his mouth, they believed me...because there are teeth...

poor Mikey he is so grumpy...

one might think after a evening like this one we would be done with the excitement...but to top it all off, that night when Mike was in bed he heard a rustling outside by the garbage cans at 2am or so. He peaked out the window and saw some raccoons, so he tapped at them to get them to go away. Instead of running away, they looked at him and charged the window, yup charged him. So it seems that we have gas leaks, rodents, teething babies and attack raccoons all residing in the Huber home this night...ugh, crisis on going and (sarcastically) yay...

summer lovin'

The boys are smiling so much now every day and all of them are cooing and laughing. Konrad laughed first a week or so ago, the Zachary laughed for the first time at his dad (not the last time I am sure) while taking his evening bath a few nights ago. Lastly, Michael II laughed for the first time with his Grandma Debbie and surprised us all. The are kicking and flailing during play time, they are so strong and happy and they kick, kick, kick. Last night I heard a rattling noise in their room and I couldn't figure out what it was. I went in there to see Zachary kicking the railing so hard that he was rattling it against the crib. He was quite pleased with himself. All of the boys are lifting their heads pretty well, no rolling over yet but Konrad definitely has the hang of getting himself over to his side. He lifts his legs up and waits until his body plops over to the side then he nuzzles in and falls asleep, it is very cute and quite creative of him since he loves to sleep on his side only. Michael is learning that he has hands and is sucking on all of his fingers but not on a thumb or any finger specifically, Konrad is finding his hands as well but Zachary could care less still and doesn't seem to notice them or want to eat them yet. It is so hot here this June, it is 85 and muggy out today. We take them out in the yard on blankets or just walk around with them out there sometimes and they love to look at the trees blowing in the wind. They are tolerating the hot weather okay but they hate being outside when it is muggy and they get all sweaty...they get very cranky very fast so we have had to take our walks in the early morning or not at all if it is too hot or muggy. Here are some pictures of them in their summer rompers (we love our outfits in this hot weather, thank you for taking mommy shopping Angie).

Zachary chillin' on the couch

Konrad snoozin' after a long day with daddy

Mikey hanging out and trying to put his hand in his mouth
but only succeeding in poking himself in the eye

breast feeding attempt number 127 (or so) - a bit graphic, sorry

Over the past few days Konrad has ben cranky...when I say cranky I mean CRANKY. He is, I believe, trying to drive me crazy...yesterday he almost succeeded...it's not him alone really, he is just constantly whining for some reason or another and wants to be held. He is in a growth spurt I think and he can't really stomach more than 3 ounces at a time so this means that he is hungry every 1-2 hours. This would be annoying but just fine if he were a singleton and since he is a triplet it is just stressful. His brothers are eating anywhere from 3-5 ounces at a time and handling it well. They are wanting to eat every 2.5 to 3 hours. I hope they are not in a growth spurt or we will have GIANT babies. Anyway, Konrad is keeping me very, very busy and somewhere in the day I have to have time to feed the other boys (I don't really eat or drink anymore or at least not during the past couple of days). Crying babies are stressful. I don't always know what they want or need, sometimes they want to be held sometimes they just cry. I do everything from feed to change to hold to play but nothing seems to work. This has been my life for a couple of days now...not good...Because I am scrambling to feed the babies and just meet their basic needs I have not had time to pump. For those of you who have breast fed in the past or just been engorged, this is not a good feeling. I usually pump 60-75 ounces per day so when I have to go 6 hours or more without pumping I am in pain...lots of pain...which makes the crying babies even more frustrating because then I start leak leaking all over because my boobs are thinking "hmmm crying baby, full boobs, lets squirt some milk to feed him" and I, with my painful engorged chest am crying, soaking wet and wishing that I could actually feed them on the boob. happy boobies, happy mommy...or at least happier mommy.

This has led me to start really trying to get the boys to latch. This is no small mission. I have to have recently pumped or pump a bit first to get things primed and ready as it were. Things flow from me pretty fast no matter what but if I try to feed them when I am full then they get a HUGE rush of milk squirting all over them and it is like a hose spraying them and not a nice slow flow like the bottle...they are not pleased or amused. When they stop feeding or they aren't into it, I take them off and we both end up drenched in milk because I can't scramble to rearrange them and get myself covered up at the same time. It seems that breast feeding is a three person job and that three or four extra hands would be helpful to hold the baby and my chest and get all of it coordinated so that they can breathe under there and so that they don't get drowned as the milk flows too quickly.

I am told that breast feeding is supposed to be harder for the baby because they have to work harder, but it seems that it is harder for my boys because they have to basically be able to "bong" the milk that is rushing into their mouths from my spraying, eager boobs. Despite these challenges and the risk of drowning, both Konrad and Zachary have latched on and successfully snacked on the boob. It is not something that I can do all of the time yet because I have to catch them when they are ready to eat but before they are too pissed off to cope with me positioning them and trying to get them to latch...also it works better if they are not distracted by the other boys crying which lately is rare because someone is always crying...even though they will not latch on often I am still very pleased that they even latched at all and that I am starting to get some results from all of my attempts to get them on the boob...

June 13th 0900: Michael (the baby) was able to breast feed this morning, woo hoo

barfy bellies and big brains

So here is our medical update...

All three boys went to the Pediatric GI doctor on last Thursday. We piled into the car, drove to Southfield, arrived to the office on time (yay me) and then waited 50 minutes to get into an exam room (boo them). It was a small exam room, maybe 6 x 10 full of counter and exam table,  that was approximately 78 degrees according to the thermostat...according to my internal thermostat it was 90 degrees or perhaps 100...Chris, the nurse and I were having to switch places and move around like tetris (lots of excuse me, pardon me, let me move for you's) in order to get all of the babies naked and examined. The babies were sweaty and cranky and of course pukey and therfore it did not take a specialty focus in Pediatric GI medicine to determine that they do in fact have reflux or at least that they puke frequently between feedings...but since we were at the specialist, I requested that she do something for us and make some changes since their current medications were obviously not effective per the many spots of puke on her exam table paper...and on me and Chris. So she diagnosed them with reflux (surprise, surprise) and gave us prescriptions for a new medication called Axid which we give three times a day to all three boys. We have to go back in two weeks (ugh) for follow up. The medication does not really seem to be making a huge difference yet but the babies are not crying as much when we give it to them because it tastes a bit better so that is a bonus. 

Then on Tuesday, yesterday, we piled into the car and drove to Beaumont hospital for Michael and Zachary's head ultrasounds. 

Michael was pretty cooperative with the ultrasound technician and he tolerated 10-15 minutes of gel and head scans. Then the radiologist came in and did some more head scans. He told us that Michael's brain looks great, no sign of too much fluid or brain bleeds. He just has a big head, all be it a crooked one that needs a helmet.

Zachary was very well behaved and he cooed and smiled and flirted with the ultrasound technician during his entire exam. She was quite taken with him. The radiologist came in and Zachary wooed him with smiles and coos. He ran some more tests and scans and concluded that Zachary is also just fine with no fluid or brain bleeds present in his head. He also has a big, but perfectly healthy, head ...and a more flirty personality.

That was it for this week and then next Thursday, the 19th, we have our exam for Michael and Zachary with the neurosurgeon to decide if they need helmets and when we will have to get them. We may have to delay this appointment for a week due to the wedding and all of the events next week...we will see...

4 Month Check Up

We had our 4 month well child visit today. All of the boys were very well behaved for the doctor and they are growing exceptionally well...so well that they are getting moved to normal baby growth charts instead of preemie growth charts starting next visit! Here are the stats from our 4 month check up:

Michael weighed in at 13 lb 6 oz, he is 23.25 inches long, and his head is 15.7 inches. He averages around the 60th percentile for 4 month old babies. He is hitting his milestones and developing great for a 7 week old, his adjusted age as a preemie. He does probably have to get a helmet next month, and he has to get a head ultrasound because his head has grown so much since birth that they have to make sure everything is okay, just as a precaution. Otherwise, he is healthy and growing better than expected.

Konrad weighed in at 11 lb 3 oz, he is 22.75 inches long, and his head is 15.5 inches. He averages around the 50th percentile for 4 month old babies. He is also hitting his milestones and developing great for a 7 week old although he is a bit weaker with head control and overall strength than the other boys. Even though he is smaller than the other two boys, he is growing well according to the growth charts and gaining weight at a good rate.

Zachary weighed in at 13 lb 9 oz, he is 23 inches long, and his head is 16 inches. He averages around the 70th percentile for 4 month old babies. He is also developing as he should be and he has great head control and is very strong. He has a check up on the same day as Michael to be evaluated for a helmet but he probably will not need one. He also has to get a head ultrasound because his head has grown so much since birth and his appointment is the same day as Michael's, next Tuesday. Otherwise, he is healthy and growing better than expected.

All of the boys have a Pediatric GI appointment this Thursday to evaluate and treat their reflux which is still a big problem for us. They have been on Zantac but it isn't really working for us. Hopefully the specialist will have some ideas that might make things easier on the boys.

As I mentioned earlier, Michael and Zachary have precautionary head ultrasounds on next Tuesday to evaluate for increased head growth and to make sure that everything is okay.

Also, we hope to start outpatient physical therapy sometime in July, we wanted to start sooner but all of the clinics are so busy that it is really hard to get all three boys in at once.

That about sums it all up! I will keep you all posted on our medical adventures....

Laughing babies!

The best thing happened a couple of days ago, Konrad laughed! He was gooing and gaaing at me and I laughed at him and then he laughed at me! It was the best thing I have ever heard. He hasn't done it since, but sometimes he comes close. The other two boys are so close to it as well. They smile so big when you look at them. Sometimes they are smiling so much when they see me or Mike that they can't keep their pacifiers in their mouths, laugh. It is a great feeling to have someone look at you and love you so much and be so happy when you just walk up to them or pick them up. I am so looking forward to the other babies laughing and to all of them doing it consistently . Little Mike is starting to put his hands in his mouth finally and Mike and I are praying that he finds his thumb because it is impossible to keep a pacifier in his mouth. He loves it so much and really likes it to fall asleep and so we are constantly playing pacifier "wack a mole" with him and his brothers at bed time. We have our 4 month visit at the doctors tomorrow and I will update more then.