Help Wanted

We are looking for help. We only ask that you are healthy and have not been sick or around anyone sick for 7 days (including no cold sores/fever blisters). If you have had this years flu shot and DTAP(tetnus pertussis vaccine) then you can hold/play with babies.

We need any and all to help with house and big boys. The big boys need someone to sit on the floor or table and play legos, cars, read books and do art projects.

Our mountain of clean clothes needs to be folded, a vacuum needs to go over the floors, the dishes need to be emptied and placed in the dishwasher. A few counters could be wiped down too.

We are so busy just getting by. The babies are fed, played with and clean. We are trying our best with everything else and failing.

You will be paid with tremendous gratitude, smiles, thank yous and a fun experience. Our house is full of excitement and there is never a dull moment.

I hope to hear from any applicants soon.

Thank you Siri and Diane

Having triplets is an amazing adventure. I am so thankful for my five children. They bring me a tremendous amount of love, laughter and joy. It is a lot of work too. We have had a few volunteers who have helped us. Most we saw once or twice, which was a great help.

We would love to have help every day even once a week. Anything is great. But there are two amazing women who have been so generous to our family. I will always remember them. The sweet acts and support that they have given our family is unforgettable.

I did not know Siri prior to having the babies. I was advised to try to find volunteers so I e-mailed post partum doulas and asked if they would volunteer. Siri is one that answered my call. She was coming twice a week for four hours a time. She even hires a babysitter so she can come on Wednesdays. That is extreme generosity. She would work so hard when she came. She always spends time with the older boys and plays with them. She always ensures the dishes are done and the kitchen cleaned. She always offers an ear to listen to all this busy Momma is going through. She is a wonderful person and we are so thankful for her. She is gentle with our little ones and treats them with such care. She has a great spirit and we are so fortunate to have had her in our family.

We met Diane through the triplets Occupational Therapist Judy (a wonderful woman who makes the best zuccini bread on the planet and has a sweet niece who has come over to help a few times). Diane is fantastic. She came to our house and is always smiling and happy with a tremendous amount of energy. She treated our little ones like they were her own. With great respect and care. She always ensured our mountain of clean clothes were folded and put away. One night she took care of the babies downstairs so we could all eat a hot dinner together. We had the baby monitor on in case she needed anything. We heard her gently calming the babies. We went to check on her and she was taking turns holding the one that needed attention. She was very busy with all three. When I woke up the next day I found a big pile of clothes that had been folded by flashlight. She works from the second she comes in to our home until she leaves.

These two amazing women were strangers to us. Two women who work so hard and have so much care and generosity to offer.

I am very independent and it is hard for me to ask or accept help. These women always knew what we needed and took care of so much. It is amazing how strangers have worked harder and done more for us than friends or family. Our home is overwhelming and I understand that, but these women can handle it and they excel at caring for us and supporting us as we learn the rhythm of our family of seven.

Thank you Siri and Diane. Both of you are amazing, generous, caring superwomen. I am so grateful for both of you and all you have done. You are always welcome at our home.

I am a busy busy Momma!!

Who knew that having five children at home would make the day flash by. Here is a typical day:

Wake up at 7 -7:30 whenever the boys climb into bed asking if they can go upstairs.

The babies also wake up near this time to eat.

I go upstairs and prepare bottles for all three (still not enough breastmilk, I will not give up though). Come down and feed and change babies, they are usually sleepy enough to go to sleep after eating. I put in a load of laundry.

By the time we get upstairs on a good day it is 10-10:30am (today was a rough day and it was noon. I feed my big boys breakfast. They usually have a bite of granola or something while I am making bottles,at 7 but I feel so bad that they have to wait so long to eat. We usually eat steel cut oats that I put on low while making the bottles earlier

.

We are usually just finishing breakfast and the babies wake up to eat. I clean and make bottles and head downstairs to feed them.

I feed babies and get them cleaned and change their clothes. The boys and I hang out playing with babies, I will put the tv on for Kai and Kian while I take care of the babies. They often play with legos or draw.

We are usually upstairs by 1 or 1:30. I make the boys lunch. On most days the babies start to wake when we are finishing lunch. Sometimes I have time to empty the dishwasher and start loading it. The boys have time to play in the living room.

We are back downstairs to feed, change and play with babies. Sidney usually comes home as we are finishing up.

The boys play with Sidney while I try to get caught up on things. Then I start dinner.

Sidney feeds or helps feed babies as I make dinner.

Every night we eat dinner together. I make sure the boys and I eat breakfast and lunch together at the table and we eat dinner too. Even if it is just a grilled cheese sandwich we do it. This is so important to me. Growing up we never ate at a table together. I really enjoy the time with my family.

The babies usually wake to eat while we are eating dinner or they have already woken and Sidney and I are each holding one or two.

By the time all that is done it is 7 or so. I change the babies and get them ready for bed. Sidney sometimes helps with a bottle if it is not too late. The boys play with legos after we get them ready for bed.

Sidney and the boys are usually in bed by 9, hopefully earlier but sometimes later.

I feed the babies. A lot of times they are fussy and want to stay up for awhile. I play with them and feed them if they are still hungry.

I go back upstairs and clean the kitchen and straighten up, I take a shower and usually hear the babies waking up. I try to put a load of laundry in. If I do not wash the diapers each night then we will not have enough for the next day. Thankfully Sidney will put a load in before he leaves if I was not able to.

I take care of all feedings until midnight. I do their last feeding at 12 or 1. I am usually to bed by 2. Sidney wakes up at 2:30 or 3 and take care of that feeding so I can sleep. He tries to feed them and top them off as late as possible so they will sleep until 7 or 8 so I can get some sleep.

Add more laundry and pumping to the schedule. I usually fold clothes once a week. I will fold them in a few minutes then feed the babies. I think the feedings take so long because I add breastfeeding in there. I breastfeed then top off with formula. It takes a long time to do. I think it is worth it and I truly hope I will have more milk. Brielle nurses the most and River barely at all. River cannot tolerate the low flow and needs more milk. We use a supplemental nurser and that helps, but adds an additional 15-30 minutes to a feed and if I did it every time then I would not be able to feed the big boys. I can pump small amounts and I usually give it to River. The babies are still in therapy for their feeding. Liam has a very weak suck, none of them have a super strong suck. We are revisiting the physical therapist next week and hopefully the occupational therapist after that. River and Liam had a posterior tongue tie and had that clipped. I think it has helped Liam. His suck is getting stronger. It seems to have helped his cry too. It is louder, which is a good thing.

Each day goes by so quickly. I wish I had more time to spend with Kai and Kian and I wish we had the money to hire a house cleaner. We have had to accept a new degree of clean. It is hard, but there is no time in the day to do the cleaning we are use to. I know it will get easier. There have been a few nights that I have fallen asleep between those late night feedings and the babies slept until Sidney woke up. I think it has happened twice. I am waiting for that to happen more. I am looking forward to more sleep. I feel for Sidney he works full time and works so much at home. He needs a few days off to sleep. He falls asleep talking to us and feeding babies. He is doing so much. He is so sweet and gentle towards the babies and still finds time with the big boys.

Even though our days are a blur I love each and every minute (even the times I sit there crying from exhaustion and impatience) . Kai and Kian are beautiful little guys. They are learning to spend more time together and even though they fight so much they are finding their way together. The little ones are a joy too. River loves to smile, she smiles and laughs at everything. Brielle smiles too but is so very serious. When she hears Kai and Kian she searches for them. She loves to look at them up close. Liam is a beautful whiny little guy. It takes a lot to soothe him. He is awake a lot. He is starting to smile more and really just wants to hang out in our arms. Brielle also loves to be close to us, River finds peace wherever she is. Though we like to keep her close too.

That is a day in our life. We had a great volunteer that was coming over a few times a week she would hold and settle babies and fold our mountains of clothes. She has left town for a few weeks. My mom can handle a few hours a week and she comes and cleans the kitchen and living room and sometimes makes cookies, that is all she can handle. We still appreciate it. I really wish we had more help. I have the babies taken care of. I have a rhythm and can do it. The house and chores need help and the boys need more one on one attention. We are all making it through though. It will all work out. I hope to look back at these busy days with peace and remember them fondly. I would not trade them for anything. They are all so truly beautiful.

We finally got a vehicle we can all fit into. We bought a 2008 12 passenger van. I really thought it would be so big and we would have so much space, but 5 large car seats take up a lot of room. I am so happy we did not get a minivan. There is no way we would have fit in it. The older boys love the van, we can finally leave the house. Here is a picture of us at the zoo. We started the day at 7am and worked towards getting out of the house and finally arrived at the zoo at 1pm. It takes a lot of time to mobilize. We had a fantastic time, the boys were able to feed the penguins.

I have Liam in a baby carrier here is the view of everyone (except me and Liam).

It was so funny one of the zookeepers said "please tell me you do not have triplets" as she patted me on the back. I think she was shocked I was out by myself with all of them. It was a bit of work especially as we sat at an exhibit in the chilly weather tandem breastfeeding. Good thing the zoo was not too busy. It is quite the sight I am sure. A lady with a two babies at the breast, two boys running around and another sleeping in a stroller. It was great, Sidney met us after work and was able to run around with the older boys.

Happy Holidays!

9 weeks

A fantastic photographer Emily Weaver Brown took this beautiful photo. She worked so hard and finally got all three babies to sleep. It is the sweetest most peaceful photo of them.

All is well here as we find our rhythm as a family. Each day is different and we learn something everyday. All babies are breastfeeding! I am still having supply issues, but I am ecstatic that they have all gained strength and skill to be able to do it. I can even nurse two at a time. We have received some wonderful help from a breastfeeding doctor, occupational therapist and physical therapist. I was taught exercises and tech

niques to help them improve their feeding skills. each of the providers have been phenomenal. The occupational therapist has been so generous and even came to our house.

Brielle, Liam and River are growing and doing new things each day. Brielle rolled over for the first time during their photo shoot, they are all smiling and are more alert each day. Kai and Kian are having

fun being big brothers. They are so gentle and sweet with their little brother and sisters.

Kai with Liam

Kian with River

A post from Daddy...

I thought I lost all my inspiration and desire to write, until today. Today I am in wonder and I stand in awe of all that has been given to me. My beautiful wife Kari, who has taught me to trust love and know that it will not fail you and to behold the wonder of each moment of life and to believe in myself. Kari I will love you until the end of time.

I have never been a religious person, but in our children’s eyes I see the spirit of what is truly divine, and holy. There is no greater treasure in the world. As Kahlil Gibran wrote ~they are the sons and daughters of life longing for its self. When our first son Kai was born it was one of the happiest days of my life and for two years Kari and I surrounded him with all the love we possessed. He was our world. Next came Kian. With his birth I believed my world was complete. My beautiful Wife and two handsome boys I had all I ever wished for. But the story was not yet complete. In March we found out we were having triplets!!! In an instant there was a strange mixture of joy and fear. Joy because of the miracle we were a part of and fear because I was not prepared for this gift. Those days were the most stressful times of my life. We had little idea of the road ahead and of our days and nights to come. My days were filled with worry for my Wife and our unborn children and my nights were spent tying to calm my mind and believe we would find a way. There were many doctor appointments including ultrasounds, non-stress test, as well of warnings that Kari may be on bed rest and the babies in the NICU. My wife Kari was amazing, there are no words I have express what she did each day. She took care of the household, our two children and me. She went to most doctor appointments by herself. She was a fierce advocate for our children’s well being and she was determined to keep those three blessings with her as long as it was medically safe. She fought through worry, fear and frustration. I know very little of childbirth but I believe women are born with an amazing instinct. I told Kari to always no mater what trust her instinct. I spent each day afraid hoping everything would be okay.

.August 19, 2011 arrived and so did our three little ones. The day our children came into the world I was filled with complete joy and a rich happiness. I never fathomed having a child in the NICU, but there we were with all three there. Only families of multiple children can understand the swirling winds of this beautiful and chaotic life.

I held my Wife’s hand and caressed her hair as Kari delivered Brielle then River followed by Liam. The staff was exceptional. They were at ease as they cared for each child that was given to there individual team. When I saw Liam I could see his chest rise and fall as he labored for breath. I was reassured he was ok he just needed some assistance. The girls looked fine, considering they were premature. They were placed in their plastic pods and examined. Once I knew Kari was stable I escorted our children with the help of the neonatologists and nurses to their room. When we arrived I watched our children go through further test and I could hear all their cries. A feeling of absolute helplessness took over me. I tried to attend to the babies as much as I could. As I came to each one the attending staff explained everything they were doing and why. This gave me a welcomed sense of calm. I’ll move forward to the days and nights spent in the NICU, which were frightening. The weeks spent in the NICU were spiritually, emotionally and physically exhausting. The Nursing staff was wonderful. And there were those who rose beyond their medical duty. Kari and I have already thanked them for their kindness and their wisdom, we will never forget them. The homecoming was an event pars none. The ever-flowing cycle of feedings, burping, diaper changes, bottle washings napping and did I mention we have a five and two year old sons. I am not complaining I love my life I am blessed beyond measure.

I want to thank all the wonderful people who offered help, meals and advice. Also the unselfish doulas that volunteered. They sacrificed their time with their families to help us in every way. Their was even one who spent money out of her own pocket to have a sitter take care of her children while she came to our house and worked non stop. We are so grateful for the time all of you have given us. Weather it is five minutes or five hours they were with us, we are thankful. A dear thank you to Cay and Shawn, your help early on enabled us to go to the NICU and for me to be in the hospital with Kari as she recovered. You both entertained and took great care of the boys. Thank you to all the staff of Evergreen Hospital who worked hard in assisting the babies, which enabled them to come home. Thank you to all the people who reached out to help. You are cut from a different cloth because kindness comes so easily to you.

I wrote this poem for Kari a few years ago and for some reason since the babies have come it’s always on my mind

The waves can find their way to shore from distant lands we can’t explore

And love can bind world’s set apart

To make the two a single heart

I love you Kari.

---

6 weeks and everyone's home!!

We are all home together, the first time together as a family of 7. I am so happy. It feels so good to have everyone home. Liam came home on Wednesday. He pulled his feeding tube out earlier in the week and his FANTASTIC nurse Shari left it out and let the other nurses know he was doing well and as long as he was eating there was no need to put it back in. That was exactly what needed to happen. When he eats I need to support his chin and push his cheeks a bit forward and in, but each day he is getting stronger.

Here are the three little ones on Wednesday night.

Sidney has a few more days off of work, he has been working so hard. Liam takes 25-45 minutes to feed and I need both hands so Sidney takes both girls and feeds them. I am not sure how I will do it in a few days when he goes back to work. We'll figure it out though. Maybe I can stagger their feeds.

4 weeks

We are all getting adjusted to late night wakings. Liam is still in the hospital. It is the funniest thing the girls and Liam, though separated love to party at night. All of them are most active during the late night hours.

Liam is doing great. He is working at getting stronger and learning how to eat. Last night was his best night and each day he is eating more and more by the bottle. I fed him the other night using suggested techniques of holding his chin and cheeks while he eats. It was tricky and he was tired.

We want him home and are looking forward to the day we are all together. It has been really tricky some days getting to the hospital. We are still driving a Camry so we can't all go to the hospital together. I don't have anyone to watch the older boys so I have to wait until Sidney gets home from work. He has been working long hours so there are days I miss going to the hospital to see Liam. Those are the hardest days. It is so unnatural to be separated from a baby. I love that little guy (all of them) and miss him so much!

I took some photos of all the babies together when I was there yesterday. They were so relaxed and loved sleeping together.

I will write more later Brielle is and River are awake.