A Word from Pookie

What a Difference a Year Makes!

Making good on my threat to Papa Jeff a couple months earlier, I thought I would step up to the plate and FINALLY make my mark on his beloved blog.  I find myself constantly re-reading some of Jeff's posts and admiring how much time he took to not only keep our friends and family in the loop during my pregnancy, but to put into words what he and I were feeling and going through 34 short weeks of pregnancy.  Please indulge me as I reflect on the past 52 weeks of our lives.

I sit here thinking about the past year and what Jeff and I have been through as a couple, and now as a family.  I would never have believe that this exact time last year, while vacationing in New York City that our lives were going to be turned upside down, and then posted across the internet for people around the world to read.

When a couple finds out they are expecting triplets, their first emotions aren't always what one would expect after 3 years of fertilty issues, and we were no different.  I remember asking myself how this happened and why we were being 'punished', after all, we only wanted one baby.  When you are Type A personality like myself, you thank the man upstairs that you have a husband that is your complete opposite.  Jeff immediately took the high road and let me know that everything was going to be ok, no matter how much I doubted it at the time, he made it his mission to put me at ease.

With each passing week of pregnancy and each milestone we hit, our reality was able to sink in more and more.  There really is nothing like hearing 3 babies hearts beating on a fetal doppler, finding out all 3 babies are completely healthy, and to top everything off, be given the perfect balance of 2 boys and 1 girl.  If I had to do the 3 years of fertility treatments all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. 

During my pregnancy Jeff and I became obsessed with reading blogs from people who were expecting triplets or who had just become parents to triplets (Rolling for Trips), maybe because we were still in denial about what was going to become of our lives, but probably more so because we knew we weren't alone during this process.  Unbeknownst to me. Jeff had been following a blog called Tip on Triplets.   Sadly, the lady went into labor at 21 weeks this past June and the 3 baby boys didn't survive.  What I didn't fully understand or appreciate until reading the Tip on Triplets blog is how special and exceptionally lucky we are that everything turned out ok for our three gorgeous babies.  Not once did the thought cross my mind that our babies wouldn't make it into this world or that they would be sick or plagued with lifelong issues.  For some reason I knew that everything was going to be alright, don't ask me how or why but I just knew it.  How ignorant was I?

The amount of complications that can arise from a triplet pregnancy are immeasurable.  I came across a few myself, but nothing a singleton pregnancy couldn't or wouldn't have brought on.  At about 15 weeks I found my arms and upper back covered in an unsightly red rash, it turned out that I had way too much estrogen in my body and this was the result.  I also contracted for lack of a better word, a syndrome, called Inter Colistasis of Pregnancy, ICP.  ICP is a very serious syndrome in pregnancy, more so in a singleton pregnancy than a mulitples pregnancy, odd I know.  Because there was no way I would be carrying three babies to 40 weeks the risks to myself and the babies were significantly reduced.  Had I been carrying a singleton, the risk of stillbirth increases significantly after 35 weeks.  This is why with no signs of natural labor in sight, Declan, Stella and Reid needed to be taken out at 34 weeks.  Thank the lord we had such a fantastic, well educated doctor on our side, I truly don't think we would have remained so calm without her.

I will never forget January 14th, 2011 EVER.  That day Jeff and I experienced what few people will ever experience.  We brought into the world 3 healthy and beautiful babies.  The last six months with Declan, Stella and Reid have changed us for the better.  We have fed babies at all hours of the night, laughed together, cried together, grown together and learned to appreciate each other more than before.  No one ever said this journey was going to be easy, and I would be lying if I tried to say otherwise. There is definitely a reason why more marriages fail with multiple births than with singletons. The work is constant, the 'me time' is non-existant and the lack of sleep is mind boggling.  There is no other way to describe it other than survival mode. 

We have watched our 3 babies grow from 3lb,14oz, and two from 4lb,2oz to approximately 15lb, 16lb and 17lbs.  Declan, Stella and Reid have begun to roll over, eat solid food, make conversation, talk and giggle like little jokesters.  Each baby's personality becomes more apparent with each passing day.  I'm sure I am going to kick myself six months from now when I look back and realize that I didn't do a good enough job at documenting the first year of our lives together.  We are never going to get this time back.

I find myself wishing away time, wishing they were able to walk and feed themselves so it would free up more time for unimportant stuff, have to take a step back because I love the age they are at right now.  Jeff and I are so lucky to have 3 babies that have been sleeping through the night since they were approximately 3.5 months old, are good car travellers, healthy eaters and simply the best babies anyone could ever ask for.

I know I have rambled on about bits and pieces of the last years in one post, please bear with me as I am not completely finished.  I could never put into words what it exactly felt like for Jeff and I to become parents to three babies or describe exactly how we felt at each appointment, seeing our babies on the big screen.  What I can put into words is how thankful we are to have the best friends and family anyone could ever ask for. 

There have been many helpers during the past six months, whether is be just holding a baby to snuggle, feeding babies, playing with babies, changing babies or even cooking breakfast, lunch or dinner for us.  Your help has never gone unnoticed and Jeff and I thank everyone immensely for all of your help, this especially means Grandma and Grandpa McCrimmon, Grandpa Aubin, Uncle Dusty, Uncle Ryan, Aunt Julie and Uncle Donny.

Someone who we haven't begun to thank enough is my mom in particular, she has been with us since day 2 with the babies, up at ungodly hours of the night feeding babies, changing babies, clothing babies, rocking babies and repeating all day EVERYDAY!  We will never be able to fully thank her for uprooting her life in Pincher Creek to come and help out in Calgary.  We knew early on we could never have done this alone.  Mom, you are the most giving, selfless person in the world and I know the past six months haven't been easy. Declan, Stella and Reid will know just how much you did for them and us in the first months of their lives.  We are forever grateful for every single diaper change, load of laundry, meal cooked, tear wiped and kiss given.  You are the best!

Even if I tried I couldn't sum up what the last six months have meant to Jeff and I, we were given the biggest blessing of 3 amazing babies and we are trying to soak up every minute possible.  We are doing the best we can and are going to make mistakes along the way but mark my words, we are never ever going to take one day for granted.  We look forward to the days, months and years ahead and are so happy so many of you are able to enjoy it with us.

Jeff, thank you for giving me the opportunity to write a little something on the blog, you have done a remarkable job detailing our journey as a family.  This blog is truly one of the greatest gifts you will be able to give our children.  I couldn't have picked a better partner to travel this bumpy road with, you have picked me up when I didn't think I could feed another baby, made me laugh when I was at my wits end and constantly remind me the hardest days are behind us.  I love you more now then I ever thought imagineable.

Thanks for letting me share in your blog Jeff!!

xo

Pookie