Babies First Christmas

Merry Christmas with three times the blessings! What a great Christmas present, three happy healthy babies. We are looking forward to many fun holidays to come and starting our own family traditions.

I was so excited to hang our Christmas stockings this year, we filled up the mantel. Here are Will, Evan and Lily with their new frog dolls that Rick and Susan gave them. They are almost as big as the babies :)

Freas Family Photo

We got together today to take some pics for the Family Calendar that Clare's brother Ben puts together every year. We added four to the family photo this year - our trio and Christy's boyfriend Chris. Mom was the photographer but we managed to get a good one with her as well.

Daddy's Girl

David has turned out to be a terrific father. He has had to help out more than most dads and is a natural at parenting. It is a great feeling to see him interact with the babies. They already have a strong bond.

Dr. Cowan and Team

Here are some photos of Dr. Cowan and his team. They took excellent care of us during the pregancy and delivery and were beyond supportive throughout the entire journey. I couldn't have gone so long with my pregnancy without them. Thanks guys!

Ho Ho Ho!

Photos for our christmas card. Precioso! Evan, Lily and Will in their Baby's first Christmas hats. I like these photos because it really shows their personalities.

Schedule

Here's a peak into our daily routine.

During the Day:
The babies eat every 3 hours during the day just like in the NICU. We try to finish the bottles in 30 mins, but it usually takes 40 mins or more.

In the morning we open the shades, turn on the lights and play music to help let them know it is daytime.

Then we have 'awake time' for ~30 mins. Holding, rocking, singing, activity mat, going for a walk, reading books. It's exciting to see them starting to look at the pages.

Then everyone is back to bed for the last 2 hours. The exeption is walk time where they crash out pretty quickly in their strollers and I walk for much of the nap time.

We have met tons of our neighbors by walking everyday. It has been nice that the weather has been so pleasant.


At night:
We let them sleep until the first one wakes up. If one wakes up a bit before 4 hours I may rock them and try to hold them off for 15-30 mins. Then feed all and back to bed.They are eating about 3-5oz per feeding these days.

Babies are great with the schedule. Staying asleep during nap time is another matter. Most of the time they are great sleepers but other times they take turns crying usually for their paci or they just need another burp or new diaper.

Happy Halloween

Will, Evan and Lily in the pumpkin patch in Terry Town. This was one of our first outings a couple weeks ago. It took Grandma Gloria, Nanny Mayela and Mom to get them packed up and to the patch.

We are looking forward to watching the trick or treaters tonight w/ our little pumpkins.

Outing w/ Triplet Mom

Out at the mall at 6 weeks...it was a fun adventure. Tricia joined me with her 7 week old triplets Hunter, Grace and Caprice. It was my first trip out with out back up support - dad, grandmas, or nanny. Each time we get out of the house it gets a little easier and I gain confidence that I can do it on my own. The babies love their carseats and stroller which is wonderful.

We did experience celebrity-dom in full force - even though it was a realitively quite Tues morning. Everyone wants to talk to you when you have triplets. We caused quite a scene - even if we were not together. Most didn't actually notice that we both had triplets. People are well meaning and gracious in general but we kept find ourselves mobbed by onlookers. It was quite overwhelming. It was nice to have a friend that understood how it felt. We also would help each other out by trading off answering the same old questions. We were barely able to carry on our own conversation. Tricia and I joked about getting t-shirts to help stem the barrage of questions 1) Yes, Triplets 2) 2 boys and a girl 3) Yes, fertility drugs -or- Don't ask me about your sex life and I won't ask you about yours :)

First Photo Shoot

Our first professional photos at home with www.christyivie.com. Will, Evan and Lily are 3 weeks old. The photos are so beautiful. I'm glad we were able to capture this sweet moment in time. We used the below photo for their baby announcements.

Together at Last

Lily, Evan and Will all home cuddling together.

Homecoming

Evan and Lily are doing great. They stayed an extra week in the NICU until they were completing all their meals consistently without the gavage. They had to eat all their meals for at least a day, then 24-48 hours of no tube necessary before getting to go home.

5 lb Longhorn

Will was home for the UT vs. Sam Houston State game. UT won easily. Will was decked out in his UT onsie that Jason gave us. He is 5 lbs now! (with clothes on)

Will comes home!

Even though Will was the smallest, he is the most robust eater and was able to come home first - good practice for mom and dad.

Our Precious Lily

 

NICU visit

We are elated to finally have our family and that everyone is in good health. It is exciting to be a mommy!

I just got back from a trip to NICU feeding and cuddling. They are adorable! I can't wait to get them home. But trying to take advantage of this time to get some rest and relax.

My mom is here as well, she went to the next feeding as I was coming home. It helps to know I have family there spending a little extra time with them. Although the nurses have also been great.

Looks like William may be able to come home soon, but Evan and Lily need to get a little stronger and better at eating. At first I think we were pushing them too much on the bottles, we have relaxed a bit and are letting them gavage feed more. They may as well rest since they already have the tubes in. It seems to have helped them as this last feeding Lily looked pretty strong.

First night home

I'm out of the hospital now. It feels good to be home but I miss my sweet babies. I feel like I'm supposed to be overwhelmingly sad that my babies are left back at the NICU and not home with us but I'm not. I'm thankful that we made it to our planned c-section date and that they were all born so strong and not needing any medical assistance beyond feedings. I'm thankful that I have a bit of time to recover before they are all home and we are completely responsible for their well being. I'm thankful that we have family to pitch in and visit the babies so that they get lots of cuddling time.

Grandma Gigi is already at the first feeding of the day. Dad and I are at home. I'm pumping and David is reading me baby tips from his father's book.

We will go to breakfast, then on to Seton NICU for changing, 11:00, 11:30 and noon feedings, then spend some quality snuggling time with our brood. They need to be eating regularly and gaining weight before they are released.

First Pics

Lily Evan

William

Welcome Trio

It’s a girl… and a boy… and a boy! I am delighted to announce the birth of our three children.

Lillian Clare Freas
Born 9.19.06 at 2:29pm
Wt: 4lbs 11oz
Length: 17 ¼”

Evan Benjamin Freas
Born 9.19.06 at 2:31pm
Wt: 4lbs 9oz
Length: 17 ¾”

William Huxley Freas
Born 9.19.06 at 2:31pm
Wt: 4lbs 7oz
Length: 16 ¾”

All three are in good health. Their mother is recovering extremely well and we hope to have to entire family home sometime this weekend.

Three cheers!

36 week doctor check up

Today we saw Dr. Berry. Erin measured the babies again. They are all still head down and ready to go. Here are their estimates:

Sweet Pea 4 lbs 4 oz (poor sweet pea was smushed under these boys)
Stretch 4 lbs 7 oz (longest legs)
Bruiser 4 lbs 10 oz (chunkiest)

Doctor said it's time for these babies to arrive!

C-Section Date

The doctors gave us a C-section date!

If we don't deliver this weekend, we have surgery scheduled for Tuesday September 19th, 1:30 pm, Seton Hospital. (which will be 36 weeks and 2 days)