Bear down, Arizona.

Matteo's loyalties are with daddy and the Pac 10 for now. Smart kid... he already knows how to suck up to his daddy.

If you ask Matteo what his thoughts are on Arizona's showing during March Madness....this is the look he'll give you:

Oh, and this was Matteo's face when he found out Lute's coming back again to coach... I'd have to say I had the same reaction. Dan, on the other hand, couldn't be happier!

My godfather would be proud! Tuesday - April 29, 2008

Rocco says:

"Oh boy... my godfather would be so proud of me. I'm ready for college football, uncle Mark! Oh... and my mommy already said it's ok if you swing through SFO next fall to pick me up on your way to a game."

Knock on wood. Tuesday - April 29, 2008

I really need to start knocking on wood, literally, whenever I decide to tell someone the twins are such easy babies and are sleeping so well for being preemies.

Dan was on a business trip for the past two nights. I was SOOOO happy to see him when he walked in the door…

Sunday night was great. Honestly. Rocco was down at 6:20pm after screaming himself to sleep for 15 minutes while I was hooked up to a pump. Ok…that wasn’t fun. But, I’m not an octopus… last time I checked I still have 2 arms and hands. Anyway… Matteo’s witching hours are usually from 6-8pm, but he went down at 9pm with minimal fussing. I was SO relieved since I was exhausted from the weekend and was simply not looking forward to getting triple-teamed by three under 3!

Matteo slept 9 hours straight Sunday night! And, Rocco slept a 7 hour stretch! EXCITING STUFF, right!?

Well, then I opened my big fat mouth and told someone about the great night… So, Monday night was awful. Matteo screamed from 6-8pm. Rocco screamed for about 40% of that time and refused to go down in the 6 o’clock hour. What on earth?! To make matters worse, I couldn't fill the kid up... he was eating like a horse (or I guess, a Martino). Dan finally walked in the door at 8pm and I handed off the babies one by one.

Two screaming babies for long stretches + one fussy/testing two year old + one hungry and tired mommy = CRAZYNESS!

Welcome home, babe!

Thank you Lexi & Callie! Monday - April 28, 2008

Gabby says:
“Thanks cousin Lexi and cousin Callie! I just love the stuff you sent me from China and Thailand! I play with it all the time. Don’t I look PRETTY?!”

Two little monkeys

Aren’t these two of the cutest little monkeys you’ve ever seen?!

Gabby and best friend Livi… just hanging around in gymnastics class.

3 months of life to celebrate! Monday, April 14, 2008

Life is so busy for us right now. The boys hit the 3 month milestone last Thursday. I can’t believe it. CRAZY!

Developmentally, I think we’re a little behind where Gabby was at this point. But, that’s normal for pre-term babies. Both boys have entered the stage of getting interactive… talking (cooing) and smiling at us. They will sometimes giggle or scream when watching big sister Gabby. She likes to dance around and sing to them. Gabby will frequently serenade us and anyone who calls us with “ABCD…”, “Twinkle, Twinkle”, and “Rubber Ducky”… all in that order.

The next pediatrician appointment is in May, so I don’t have any 3 month growth stats to share. But, I think Matteo is now pushing 15lbs and Rocco must be over 14lbs now too.

We have our good days and we have our challenging days. We’re still not on a real schedule of any sort, but apparently that is also quite normal at this age for pre-term babies. Sleep still is questionable at night, but both have shown us they know when it’s night-time. Matteo is the better sleeper in that he’s slept for more longer stretches than Rocco (9 hours has been his best). But, Rocco has the ability to somewhat put himself to sleep when we know he’s tired without too much drama. He’ll fuss for less than 10 minutes and POW… he’s asleep! I think Gabby cried for 2.5 hours at one point before she fell asleep. The whole sleep training thing just didn’t jive with her. Knock on wood… but I think the boys will sleep train just fine!

Gabby singing:

Rocco:

Matteo:

Taking a moment to be raw… Monday - April 14, 2008

One thing I have been struggling with a bit lately is when I go on a walk or somewhere with the boys and people will comment on the “twins”… how cute they are or how much work it must be, etc. And, even though I also refer to the boys as twins… every time I hear the word “twins”, I can’t help but think of how they were actually triplets at one point, and how we have a little angel that spends each day and night with us. What really seems to kill me lately is when I have all 3 kids in the triplet stroller… and people will come up to me and ask if I have triplets in there. I say no. But, my heart hurts each time.

I have a slight obsession with reading blogs. Probably not a good habit… but it started when I found out I was pregnant with triplets. I needed a way to connect to people who had multiples and make myself aware of the good and the bad. By bad, I mean, the reality of babies not surviving the multiple pregnancy, or becoming angels soon after being born. We’re often very aware of the good stories – proof that miracles do happen. But, the bad outcomes far outweigh the good. Everyone in my world was completely unaware of the health complications and risks we were up against. And, let’s be honest… nobody can claim to understand your emotions, fears and anxiety unless they have been in your shoes.

Every ounce of me knows how incredibly lucky we are to have been blessed with three healthy babies… the first born at 40 weeks and 3 days, and the second and third born at 35 weeks and 5 days. It’s a reality that I am thankful for every single day. I know there are so many women whose hearts are heavy because they are struggling with getting pregnant, as I did. There are so many women who have experienced a loss similar to mine. And, there are countless women who have experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth or held their baby in their arms only to have had to say goodbye. Every one of these women, including myself, feels a pain and hurt so different from the next. It would be impossible to fully explain it to anyone.

Every single day I am thankful for our children. They are 3 of the 5 souls I hold most near and dear to my heart. Dan and Baby C make up the other 2.

12 weeks old today! Thursday - April 3, 2008

Life has been CRAZY busy lately. And I have a feeling I'll continue to feel that way and say that for the next few years. It’s almost as if every day needs to include some sort of drama.

Oh, and after last week, I am convinced we’re funding Dr. O’s children’s college educations. Seriously. We had 6 (yes SIX!) visits to the pediatrician because of ear infections last week (oh, and Gabby’s ear ruptured… ugh!). Trust me when I say I was not happy about dropping $210 on co-pays. DANG! I remember the glory days of spending that on a pair of sexy jeans. Some people choose shoes or maybe hand bags. My indulgence? Jeans. And it sort of has been ever since I was a kid and my dad brought me home my first jean jumpsuit with a rainbow belt and fish patch on the knee. Don’t laugh – it was hot at the time. I’d post a photo if I had access to my mom’s albums… lord knows I wore that jumpsuit out. ANYWAY… the glory days of personal spending indulgence are sooooooooooo gone. Total blur in the memory…

At least the boys are finally sleeping better. Matteo has now given us 5 nights with a 9 hour sleep stretch (not consecutive nights), and Rocco gave us his first 9 hour sleep stretch last night. I think we're just a few weeks away from developing some consistency with morning and afternoon nap schedules. Apparently, it takes premature babies a bit longer to fall into a sleep routine. I must say… I am SO EXCITED about getting the boys on a sleep schedule. That’s something we were never able to do with Gabby at the start since she was a bundle of colic.

Anyway, here are some photos of our little 12 weekers… and actually, there’s nothing little about these guys. They’re HUGE!

Rocco:

Matteo: