Friday, July 20, 2007

Time flies

Our beautiful half-breed triplets are 6 months old today!!!

They have come such a long way from the tiny 2 pounders that entered this world nearly 3 months early.

I just constantly think to myself about how blessed, or just really lucky we are that we have no major health issues to deal with and that we have 3 living babies. This has been on my mind a lot since hearing that the fifth of the Morrison sextuplets passed away this past Sunday. My heart just breaks for them and they decisions they had to face throughout the PG. I recall at my first appt. with the high risk OB practice that there was concern with triplet B due to an increased nuchal fold measurement. One of the first things talked about was the possibility of selectively reducing triplet B. It was horrible to hear that after being overjoyed to see 3 babies and their strong HBs moments earlier. We were faced with the difficult decision to do CVS testing which carried a risk of miscarriage. Thank God there were no chromosomal abnormalities this time around and that we didn't have to make the decision to essentially kill triplet B. In my gut I knew I would never be able to go through with that decision, even if it had meant that I knew the baby would die shortly after birth. Now as I look at triplet B (Mairin) sleeping soundly in my arms, I am overjoyed with her addition to our lives and that of her brothers as well (including Quinn- my extra special potty trained boy!).

Ewan then:

Ewan now:

Noel then:

Noel now:

Mairin then:


Mairin now:


Special toilet-going big brother Quinn:


Not bad, huh?

Friday, July 13, 2007

Please take a moment

to keep two very special people in your thoughts and prayers.

My dear friend Liz
on the anniversaries of the passing of and birth of her incredible brother Eric. I was thinking of you and should have posted this earlier.

and also my friend Barbara
who is also struggling with the passing of a loved one, her mother.

That they might find some comfort and peace and know they are thought of and greatly loved.

Check it out

I HAVE CLEVAGE (thanks to the triplets and the BFing)!

I seriously never thought it could happen to me and now I am writing about it. Wait, this is starting to sound like some Penthouse letter to the editor.
Here is Noel (aka the Clinger) at the Church of St. Michael in Stillwater. We were here for their ceremonial baptism as my sister (the godmother) from Australia was in town with her 3 kids for 5 weeks. It was such a wonderful experience as Eddy and I were married here, Quinn was baptised here, and now we have the chance to share this sacrament with Ewan, Mairin, and Noel. It feels like we are finally putting permanent roots down somewhere after years of moving during college, grad school and the early years of living together and marriage.

We had the babies baptised officially in the NICU during their first couple of weeks of life, just in case... That was a good experience as well though tinged with some sadness for me. During the mental fog that was our NICU experience I made the baptism for a Wednesday evening that worked with Eddy's work schedule, my parent's schedule, and his parent's schedule as his dad was still working hard on our basement. It wasn't until I was in the car on the way to the hospital that I realized what the date was: February 7th, exactly 1 year to the day that we lost our baby girl. It was overwhelming and strange; almost like God speaking to me letting me know that there is some plan in place. I like to think that Mairin is God's gift back to us and that Ewan and Noel are additional blessings (which all children of course are). While it still devastates me to think of the little girl we lost, I now cannot imagine my life without the addition of these 3 babies and Quinn. It was one of those full circle moments.

Here is my brother (the godfather) with Mairin, me with Noel, and my sister with Ewan:

My cup runneth over.