Has it really been a whole month?

How did an entire month slip away without a blog post? Well I guess a recap is in order. I have finished my classes. I worked hard and got an A in both. Now that they are done I am taking the summer off. So my classes will not resume until September.

The triplets are home and doing well. My sister is just plain exhausted. Thank goodness she can tell them apart because no one else can. We were lucky enough to have 2 sleep overs this month with one of them. The first to spend the night with us was Jillianna Marie (She is the baby baby). Anna was not jazzed about it. Jillianna is still so little that she requires feeding, diaper changes and tons of sleep so once I got her settled Anna was better. This was about 2 weeks ago.

Our second sleep over was the other night. Anna did much better. We had been out getting their pictures done and out of the blue Anna asked if one could spend the night. Jenny is wonderful when it comes to Anna and her anxiety about the babies so she let her pick which one got to spend the night. This time she picked Jacqueline Catherine. I thought it was funny because I think she picked her because she was the one that was not crying at the time. For this sleep over I was allowed to hold her a little bit longer. So I am guessing it will be Jennalynn's turn next.

In the last month I have seen Anna both regress and grow emotionally. I am fielding a lot more questions about her birthmother. Every time she brings up her birthmother she tells me how much she loves and misses her. I love that she loves her as much as she does. I keep reassuring her that is okay to miss and to love her. She talks about going to see her birthmother and I also support that too but when she is a little bit older.

There has also been a lot of talk in our home about going to the beach. Next week I have to make a point to drive over and see the progress. We may not be about to use our favorite beach and may have to decide on another beach for the summer. I also need to buy our beach badges. We have so many plans for the summer. A couple of us are thinking about camping on the beach in Virginia. I am leaning towards renting a house there in August. Time will tell.

The Disney cruise...AHHHH! We have made our final payment. When I looked at the calendar at first it seemed so far away but in reality it is not. I have to admit I am having a hard time sleeping if I go to bed with the cruise on my mind. We still need to finalize our airfare. I told Gerard we need to step up our savings toward the vacation.

That is basically it. My camera has become a little dusty over the past 3-4 months. I did manage to get a picture of each of the kids for the blog so here they are.

 

Jillianna 2 months

 

Jennalynn 2 months

 

Jacqueline 2 months

 

Hans 3 years 11 months

 

Anna 5 years 7 months

Happy Easter!

I know I have been absent for a few weeks it seems like time is at a premium these days. I have 21/2 weeks left of school and then I will be off for 5 beautiful months. We have so many exciting plans for the up coming months if I can just get through the next two week.

Anna is off enjoying Easter with Gerard because my homework has gotten in the way. This makes me sad because I hate to miss time with them.

The triplets are all home and my sister has taken the wheel of becoming a mother. I am suddenly so proud of her. The girls are all still on monitors due to apnea but we are hoping that they will out grow it in time.

I promise an entire picture post of them in the near future.

Here is Anna leaving this morning for AM's house.

 

I can not believe how big she has gotten

 

Can you see the two teeth peaking through?

 

And of course Mr. Wilson and Anna

 

Happy Easter!

First meeting

We took Anna to see the babies today. She even got to feed one. This is Jillianna also known as Hun.

A Saturday afternoon...

This past Saturday I was suppose to be at the Created for Care conference in Atlanta like last year. At the last minute I just thought it was too much on my family for me to be away. So instead I made sure my homework was complete and that I would devote the entire day to Anna.

We started out as usual playing with the guys in the living room. Now I really do love watching and listening to her play. She makes up such wonderful story lines for the "guys". While playing we went from the living room to her bedroom. Once I was in her bedroom I realized that it had been FOREVER since I had gone through her clothing. I busted out some new long sleeve shirts and shoes from the next size up box I keep in her closet.

I stopped and looked at my growing baby and realized just how much I have missed of her young years. I think this has all really hit home for me seeing how little Vicksey, Flower and Hun are. Those are the nick names that Anna has given them. Personally I like them so that is how I will be referring to them.

The other day we were unpacking some of the things that my sister has gotten for her girls. Anna's face beamed. She jumped into the bassinet and pretended to be a baby. It was both cute and sad all at the same time. I wonder if she was picked up or if anyone even stopped to notice her first smile. She is really not doing well with the idea of me holding one of the babies. We are reassuring her that she is my ONLY baby but on some level she is still so insecure with that.

I have been able to take a couple of call offs which has been good because I am able to spend more nights with her. She has told Gerard and my Mother recently that she really does not like it when I am working. Bless her little heart that she wants me here all the time. I really wish that I could be off for a couple of months with her.

As far as the triplets go I am truly amazed as to how well they are all doing. There have been very few bumps in the road for them. Their feedings are up to about an ounce which is good. I do however believe that all three will need a monitor when they come home because of apnea. I am still holding out hope that they will straighten out and not need the monitors. Only time will tell.

The best things come in threes

Yesterday our family welcomed three of the most beautiful little ladies into this world. My sister is also doing well.
Baby A & C needed no respiratory support. Baby B is on CPAP on room air. This is truly a miracle. We expected them all to be intubated. I will post more pictures as soon as I get to my computer.

Home Sweet Home

I made it in from Missouri safe and sound on Saturday. The flight was early so I got to spend the entire day with Anna and Gerard. Anna told me stories of how she missed me and cried for me. Gerard told me stories of the fun that they had while I was away. They went to the boat show and climbed in and out of hundreds of boats. I am happy to say none were purchased.

Saturday Anna spent most of her time sitting on lap. She talked the whole way home from the airport which Gerard and I giggled about. Remember when she did not say a word? She told me that she grew while I was gone and I am happy to say when I measured her she did not grow.

I am also happy to say that the three pregnant ladies that I did not want to deliver all complied with my wishes. We stopped to see Sarah last night (one of the pregnant ladies), she watched Anna for me so that I could go see Jenny. I told her that she is allowed to deliver any time now and she laughed.

Jenny is doing fine. I am amazed everyday by how well she is handling this pregnancy. We talked a little bit about what the babies may look like and what things may need to be done to them. She told me that the hardest part is going to be not seeing them right away. I agree. I am fortunate because I do know two nurses that work in the NICU where the babies will be so I feel good about them being there. NICUs are a small world of nursing so I pretty much know someone is all the local ones.

My week in Missouri was eventful. I did full examinations of live men and women. I brought back so may memories of working with adults that I am a little excited at the possibility of working with adults again. I was able to get some home work but I did not get as much as I wanted too.

This week is going to be a busy one. Jenny's C-section is planned for Friday. Her Baby shower is planned for Saturday. Anna has a half day at school today so my job this afternoon is to go and get the gifts for the shower. It should be a long and fun day.

I made it through

Well I survived and I think Anna has fared pretty well this week. I talked to them last night and Anna asked when I was coming home. She told me that she misses me. Bless her heart. I can not wait to pick her up and kiss her whole face.

I am sure Gerard is ready for me to come home too. It is hard to be the only one. The start of the week was difficult because my Mother was so worried about Jenny. I had a talk with her to quiet some of her fears.

I have managed to get a little bit of homework done. Tonight I am going to celebrate with Bar-B-Q! It really is one of my favorite things to eat and not really one of Gerard's favorites. I plan on breaking out my highlighter and knocking out a few assignments. I am so happy that I have completely decided on a break this summer. My instructors and classmates are worried that I may not return but I know I will.

Jenny is holding on. She told me that she is having a few contractions here and there but for the most part she is just hanging out in bed. I will feel more comfortable when I am about an hour away rather than multiple states away. I have so much to do for next week. I have a very early flight so once I am done with my homework I will pack up to be ready to leave as soon as I get up.