Hey guys! Please don't throw tomatoes at me... I've been super busy running between two hospitals again and not to mention taking turns holding my precious little girls. Sometimes I hold the girls for 2-3 hours each, and I can't do much but stare at their beautiful faces the entire time, ok ok... and take about 1000 selfies LOL ... The girls are doing great! They are changing every single day! And I'm eagerly waiting for the girls to come home! We started working on their nursery. One of three cribs are up right now. The walls are painted. And so much more. My favorite is the girls entertainment stuff - I found three rock n plays all the same color and brand spanking new for less then 1/2 of the retail price. And we got... 3 MAMAROOS!!!! I'm so freaking excited to have been able to get them - with the help of some family and friends and super cheap because I worked every sale, discount and coupon possible to get the best price on them! So make sure to read on to see how I saved hundreds of dollars on so much stuff!
Hadassah
Hadassah has had a great few weeks! She hit and surpassed 4 pounds! She went from being on the RAM Cannula to being on Cpap so no more ventilator for her. She is holding strong! Before we know it she'll be on high flow oxygen, then low flow and then nothing!!! So respiratory wise Hadassah is doing great! She is also tolerating her feeds. She is on 38.4cc of milk every 3 hours! That is roughly 1.25 ounces of milk every feeding. Right now she is on 1/2 breastmilk and 1/2 formula to get her to increase in weight quicker. On February 8th, 2014 she got her two month shots. She was cranky but over all doing well. On January 29th, Tito got to hold Hadassah for the first time. He was sooooooo scared! But the nurse gave him two options - Kangaroo Care (skin to skin) or holding her all swaddled up. So Tito went the easy route and got to hold her swaddled up. She loved it! Hadassah was so still and did so well being clothed in a white t-shirt and swaddled in pretty blankets. So I brought in some clothes the next day and since then she's been wearing clothes! Now they started swaddling her inside of her isolette, as of Friday, February 7th! She is keeping her temperature and loving being dressed! We got some awesome pictures of her these past few weeks, take a look...
Tito's first time holding Hadassah <3
Mommy was tell Hadassah how crazy a man named Tito is...
She was shocked at his craziness until....
She found out that Tito was her dad! LOL
"Who's the fairest of them all?" - Snow White aka Hadassah
Such a girly girl already!
Hadassah here is "thinking" how amazing it is to cuddle with mommy!
All dressed up in her little sleeper ready for bed! Feb. 7th
Such a pretty girly girl with such beautiful grey/blue eyes!
Isabella
Isabella has had a roller coaster of a few weeks. On Wednesday, February 4th she had laser treatment to her eyes for stage 3 ROP. She did well during her treatment and is due for a follow up on Monday the 10th. She had been up and down on her respiratory devises but as of Thursday, February 5th she was placed on CPAP and she is doing great on it! She also got her shots on February 9th and was very cranky afterwards. But Daddy came and held her for the first time. She loved being swaddled and tucked into her daddy! And he loved it just as much. So Tito has officially held all of his daughters - once... lol.... Anyway, Isabella is doing great with her feeds and is also on 1/2 milk and 1/2 formula. She seems to be tolerating it very well. She starting wearing clothes today, February 9th, on a regular basis and I can't wait to go and see her tomorrow all dressed up in her bed. A little something funny - I went to scrapbooking on Thursday at Chop. There was a woman who came in and I could instantly tell that she was one of those "I WANT ATTENTION" kind of people. You know, those people who talk super loud in public about their gains, losses etc just so that others can see how bad or great they are doing... anyway... She came in and demanded everyones attention as we all worked on our children's scrapbook. So she says, "My daughter was born at 38 weeks. Her name is Isabella and we call her Bella." So the social worker there asked me to tell my story, so I made it simple... "I gave birth to triplet girls at 25 weeks. Their names are Hadassah, Cianna and Isabella of which we also call Bella." That other women grunted and said, "UGH!!" really loud. I almost fell out of my seat. How pathetic must people be? I mean get over yourself honey, there are hundreds of Isabella's out there and many go by Bella! LOL She got so mad! LOL Anyway here are some shots of Bella recently...
"Ohhh... Is that a camera?" ~ Bella
My beautiful Isabella!
Isabella in Tito's arms - Doesn't she look just like him?
Isabella - not happy that she was put back in her bed last night.
February 8th, 2013
Cianna
As many of you now Cianna was transferred back to Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia (Chop) on Monday, January 20th, 2014. Cianna's white blood cell count was rising over the weekend and the doctors over at Virtua believed that she was getting NEC again. As a precaution they sent her over to Chop. I wasn't happy given my previous experience with Chop but this time around Cianna was placed in the West NICU under a whole new team of nurses and doctors. And I must say that I love them all! What a difference a change of team does! Anyway, Cianna got to Chop and was placed on antibiotics immediately. She will have to stay on these antibiotics for 14 days (her last dose in Thursday, February 6th, 2014). She will have to stay NPO (nothing per oral - milk feeds) until she has completed her antibiotics. So hopefully and God willing, she will be back on her feeds this Friday, February 5th. On the bright side Cianna was extubated on January 29th, 2014 and was placed on regular Cpap! Then God decided to show off a little more with Cianna and they placed her on just High Flow Oxygen of 3 Liters! She is doing so well on it! Before we know it she'll be on low flow, bottle feeding and ready to come home! Speaking of feeds... they began 2cc of breast milk every 3 hours on Thursday, February 6th! I'm such a proud momma! As hard as it is, I have been going up to Chop at least every other day to see and spend time with Cianna. It takes time and money, but we are managing and I'm grateful for all the help my family has given me. I finally got to go up with Tito this past Sunday morning. When we got there we instantly noticed that Cianna seemed irritated and cranky. She was red and crying at the tops of her tiny lungs. I placed my hands inside of her isolette and over top of her and she instantly calmed down. Every time I let her go she woke up and started crying! I stood there with my hands over her for close to 2 hours when I needed to go and pump. So once she calmed down I left. I came back 30 minutes later to find Tito looking into the isolate with a frustrated face. He see's me and says, "Its about time you came back! Cianna only wants your hands! I tried to calm her but she is not calming down." I laughed and went over to her. As soon as I placed my hands on her she calmed down *score* Jackie -1 Tito - 0.... LOL On another note,we aren't sure how long she'll be at Chop, but right now I'm not worried or in a rush to get her back to Virtua. If Cianna likes Chop then mommy and daddy will too! And to end on a good note... Tito got to hold Cianna for the first time on February 8th (yesterday). He was so nervous since she is the smallest, but he did such a great job! He is proving to be such an amazing father and so careful of his daughters. Every time Cianna started drawling or blowing bubbles with her mouth he was asking me to clean her up... LOL God has truly blessed me with an amazing husband and three beautiful girls!
Cuddle time with Cianna
So happy after cuddling with mommy!
Cianna - Such a beauty!
Cianna on High Flow Cannula - She was wiped out in this picture LOL
Cianna's first day on CPAP
Cianna on February 8th, 2013
Daddy holding Cianna! - Feb. 8th, 2014
Weekly Weight Stats
Hadassah
11/19/13 - 1 lb. 6 oz.
11/26/13 - 1 lb. 4.6 oz.
12/3/13 - 1 lb. 4 oz.
12/10/13 - 1 lb. 10 oz.
12/17/13 - 1 lb. 11oz.
12/24/13 - 2 lb 2oz.
12/31/13 - 2 lb 4oz.
1/7/14 - 2lb 9 oz.
1/14/14 - 2 lb. 12oz
1/21/14 - 3lb. 3oz.
1/28/14 - 3lb 12oz
2/4/14 - 4lbs 1oz
12/24/13 - 2 lb 2oz.
12/31/13 - 2 lb 4oz.
1/7/14 - 2lb 9 oz.
1/14/14 - 2 lb. 12oz
1/21/14 - 3lb. 3oz.
1/28/14 - 3lb 12oz
2/4/14 - 4lbs 1oz
Isabella
11/19/13 - 1 lb. 3.4 oz.
11/26/13 - 1 lb. 3 oz.
12/3/13 - 1 lb. 1.6 oz.
12/10/13 - 1 lb. 11 oz.
12/17/13 - 1 lb. 13 oz.
12/24/13 - 2 lb
12/31/13 - 2 lb 2 oz.
1/7/14 - 2 lb 8 oz
1/14/14 - 2 lb 13oz
1/21/14 - 3 lbs. 3oz
1/28/14 - 3 lbs 12 oz
2/4/14 - 4lbs
Cianna
12/31/13 - 2 lb 2 oz.
1/7/14 - 2 lb 8 oz
1/14/14 - 2 lb 13oz
1/21/14 - 3 lbs. 3oz
1/28/14 - 3 lbs 12 oz
2/4/14 - 4lbs
Cianna
11/19/13 - 1 lb. 4 oz.
11/26/13 - 1 lb. 1.2 oz.
12/3/13 - 1 lb. 2.1 oz.
12/10/13 - 1 lb. 3 oz.
12/17/13 - 1 lb. 6 oz
12/31/13 - 2lb
1/7/14 - 2 lb 2 oz.
1/14/14 - 2 lb 7oz
1/21/14 - 2lb 12oz
1/28/14 - 2lb 15oz
2/4/14 - 3lb 1oz
Pumping / Breastfeeding / and now Formula!!!
Ugh... I'm still pumping! But it is getting hard to stay on schedule. Between driving, tending to the girls, eating etc. I constantly pass my pumping times. Sometimes I go 7+ hours without pumping. I know, I know - I can't do that, but I can't help it some days. And now I'm paying for it because my chest hurts like a mother! At least once or twice a week I get a clogged duct which is no fun! I massage, I do warm compresses and still I often hurt. But I'm not quitting and I'm not giving up. Hadassah and Isabella are taking 44-46 ml of breast milk every 4 hours. Up until February 5th, they were only on breast milk feeds with some added fortifier for extra calories. But they changed things up a bit. They are now alternating breast milk and formula every other feeding. Hadassah and Isabella are now on Similac Neosure ( for premature babies). They will be coming home on this formula which only comes in a 13.1oz can and costs $17 a can. Being that I only produce 20-25 ounces of breast milk a day - I'll have to get one can a day to feed all three girls! So that is roughly $527 for a 31 day month!!!! Ohhh the joys of having triplets =)
Diapers
Car Seat & Mamaroo Deal
Boy are diapers expensive! I mean seriously - 28-12 cents a diaper with store brands like Targets Up & Up and Walmart's Parent Choice being the cheapest! I really don't understand why diapers are so expensive because they are peed and pooped on and then trashed! But alas they must be purchased and in case in multiples of 3! So I've turned to coupling for them. And I want to share my deals so that others reading can also save. Now keep in mind that everyone has their preference in brands so don't be judgmental of the brands that I budget for... The cheapest I found without coupons is Walmart's Parents Choice with an average of .12 cents a diaper. (1 pack of size 1 had 50 diapers for $5.97. So $5.97 divided by 50 = .12 cents a diaper.) I however prefer Up & Up at Target which gives you 50 size 1 diapers for $6.99. The Target cartwheel app every 2-3 weeks has a coupon for 10% off Target brand diapers (and wipes). And if you have the Target Red Card (debit not credit) you get an extra 5% off your purchase. So you'll end up paying $5.98 for a pack of 50 which is also .12 cents a diaper. I don't buy Pampers because even with coupons and deals they are too expensive (.18 - .28 cents a diaper even with sales/coupons). A box of Huggies Snug and Dry size 1 comes with 232 diapers for $42.99 which is .19 cents a diaper but I got them for .09 cents a diaper <- Cheaper then Walmart and Target Brand. Here's how - Babies R Us had a coupon that if you purchased 2 of the $42.99 boxes you would get them for $29.99. But I also had two $5 off and two $3 off coupons. I got each box for $21.99. For $43.98 I got 464 diapers so I paid .09 cents a diaper. 9 cents for HUGGIES! I got the $5 off coupons directly from Huggies when I signed up online to receive coupons on their website. The $3 off coupons I got on ebay. I purchased 20 - $3 off coupons for $3 including shipping! It takes a lot of work and calculation but it can be done! You can do it and you can SAVE $$$. Here is a glimpse into my diaper future - For 6 months I will need at a minimum 6,480 diapers. I currently have 3,500 in stock and I have paid less then half of the full price. Now it's time to stock up on Size 2! LOL ... PS - thank you to my family and friends who have helped coupling or bringing over boxes of diapers! You all rock my socks!
OMG! I love the Target Cartwheel App! From Feb. 2-8th there was a coupon for 20% off all carseats. Plus my 5% off by using my Red Card. The car seats I wanted are $189.99 (ChiccoKeyFit 30). So after all my savings I would have paid $149.70 each BUT... I found $5 off any Chicco Carseat or Stroller (I printed 3). When I get to Target the carseat is on sale for $151.99!!! So I got to the register and a manager sees that I'm getting 3 carseats. We get to talking and I tell her that I have triplets in the NICU, so she overrides an extra 10% off! So I got 20%, $5 off, an extra 10% and the usual 5% Red Card deal.... I PAID $102.68!!!!! (times three of course). Now the MAMAROO... They are expensive and I truly counted without them because buying three would be way too much on us. They average $219 for the rough one and $249 for the soft one. Tito and I personally likes the soft fabric so that's the one we went with. We had 3 - 25% off trade in coupons, 3 - 20% off any item, then we got an extra 10% off each item because we were buying for multiples - this brought each one down to $134.46. Someone gave us $200 specifically to be using on a swing/bouncer for the girls. So the $200 went towards our $403.38 bill so we only had to pay $203.38 which came out to $67.80 a piece! God is amazing! He truly has blessed us during this time! We have placed our trust in him and he hasn't failed us yet and never will!
Here are the carseats we got!
Here is the Mamaroo in the color we got!
I Trust in Jesus
If you thought having one child was costly try multiplying all your bills for one child by 3. I always thought that I would have 2-3 children but never 3 at once. So when we began trying to have children we really thought that after all the years of trying we would get pregnant with one baby. So we planned for one baby. We would be able to afford it all... child care, nutrition, diapers, wipes, cars, mortgage etc. I would work and Tito would work and we would be fine, everything would be covered. When we first found out we were having twins we panicked a little but we quickly amended our budget and so we planned for two. And although things would be tight, we would manage. But then we found out it was triplets. I was so confident that everything would work, but then I started putting the numbers together and nothing I did worked for us. I tried all different options, Tito staying home and I working, and vise versa. We figured that we could both work and only need child care 2-3 hours a day mon-friday but this was all depending on the girls coming around 34 weeks and not needing any special care. Them coming at 25 weeks completely took us by surprise and their arrival turned our lives upside down. I took the budget and through it out the window because nothing we had planned would work out now. For the first 6-8 weeks of the girls lives we just went with the wind and didn't really think much into budgets, jobs etc. However the past two weeks have been a little hard. I'm due to report to work on April 9th at 9am in Atlantic City. This thought alone has put my planning and budgeting into over drive. I have found myself crying (ok... more like sobbing), upset, angry, sad, disappointed, confused, stressed and so much more. We need a vehicle that can transport the five of us. One of us is going to have to stay home and leave our job as the girls will have a lot of medical needs such as appointments ect. during their first year of life. Not just anyone can watch them, and at the rate of our expenses even if we both worked we wouldn't have enough to cover child care. Do you sense my anxiety? I have always had everything planned out. I hate surprises or last minutes changes. I have liked to think that I have had my life all figured out and God is proving to me lately that it's not all about that. The Bible tells us in Psalm 127:4, "Children are a blessing from the Lord." James 1:17 reminds us that "every good thing and gift comes from the Lord." Jeremiah I believe that the Lord has a plan in all of this and I'm choosing now to let go of the plans I have made and allow God to take control of my life, plan and future. Not only for my life for for my family. He tells us in Jeremiah 29:11 that he knows the plans He has for us, plans of a future, plans for prosper us and not hurt us. We just have to believe! You have no idea how hard it is for me to do this. My OCD and planning compulsion is telling me to continue planning and budgeting even when I know nothing will work. Even when I know that I need to place my trust in God. So I'm going against everything I have ever known and I'm placing my trust in God. I'm fully aware that a car won't fall from the sky, but then again who are we to doubt God? Nothing is impossible for the man upstairs! I'm too blessed to be stressed...
Xoxo,
Jackie
Xoxo,
Jackie
