Successful switch to 4 hour feeding schedule!

We spent the weekend transitioning from feeding the triplets every three hours to every four hours. The new schedule allows us to sleep in 3-4hour increments vs. 2-3hours. This is a 50-100% increase in REM sleep.

The new schedule also reduces our bottle washing load by 25% from 24bottles per day to 18bottles per day.

We now feed at 1am, 5am, 9am, 1pm, 5pm, and 9pm...so if you want to call us please avoid those times. Thanks

Sweet Nectar of Life - Sleeping through the 3am feeding

Hopefully we started a trend last night. Both Grace and Charlie slept through the 3am feeding. That would mean 6hours of uninterrupted sleep as Maria (our nighttime nanny) can feed Joe!!!

Say a prayer that they will continue to sleep through the night.

Going for a Walk

The "triplets" took their first walk today. Look at the pictures below. Sounds like all went well until they stopped at the Rice Farmers Market...Grace and Joe "blew a tire" and did not like stopping in 92F Houston heat.

Observations on Reflux

Babies with acid reflux are like ticking time bombs in the movie...you know they are going to explode if you don't do everything in the right order or take too long.

step 1 (the easy part)...unscrew the four cover bolts from top left counter clockwise = feed sitting upright

step 2 (time critical)...cut the blue wire....no wait, I meant cut the red wire...clock now ticking at 3x normal speed and you gotta choose red or blue??? = burp and then finish the bottle

step 3 (could go boom?!?)...cut the red wire = lay flat and quickly (very quickly) swaddle as baby being horizontal leads to reflux....pray

step 4 (we survived)...repeat time bomb drill in three hours

New parent thoughts

1. All parents have revisionist history. We get many comments like, "Enjoy every minute of the babies". Not trying to be negative, but there is NO WAY parents enjoy every minute of their babies.
2. Burps and poops are celebrated. Odd, but it happens.
3. Heart melting experience. Babies start smiling on stimulation at about 8weeks old. Expect pictures to be posted.
4. I have a little sympathy for anyone with only one baby at home. Twins get respect. And I am totally impressed by anyone with triplets.

Pictures of the Three Babies Together Below

We thought you might want to see our "Irish Triplets" together. They are as cuddly and adorable as they look.

Sorry for the delay...things got a little hectic

Ann and Joseph came home on Saturday around 2pm...Our family's first night went reasonably well. Charlie and Grace both stuck to their three hour schedule (midnight and 3am) and Joe wanted to eat at 2am and 6am, so all in all that meshed pretty well. Ann and Joe are upstairs now feeding. Ann is still pretty sore and probably will be for a week or two.

17 hours and 56 minutes

The time Daddy spent at the hospital today. It was an amazing day. Ann did an incredible job through labor (5am-3pm), delivery (via C-section), and ending the day with Joe's first meal.

Mommy and baby are doing well. Daddyis beat, but came home to get some rest. Nurses sure do interrupt your sleep a bunch at the hospital.

Joseph William Heikkinen was born at 3:22pm on July 11, 2007. He weighed 7lbs 9.3oz and was 20" long.

For reference, Joe was Ann's grandfather and Charlie was my grandfather. Grace is a new family name, but if you look it up Ann means "grace". So she really is named after her mother.

Update...Big Day Should Be 7/11

Hello all

I just got home from my doctors appointment, everything is going well. My sugar levels, blood pressure and weight are all good. The ultrasound estimates him to be a little under 8 pounds. The plan is for me to go into the hospital tomorrow evening for some preparation and be induced starting Wednesday morning. My doctor expects me to have the baby sometime on Wednesday, although if things drag out it could be Thursday. We will keep everyone updated.

Take care, Ann

Changes in Daddy's life

1. New morning ritual - buy a large coffee with two creams from McDonald's $1.61

2. New afternoon ritual - wish I was back in college where afternoon naps were scheduled and expected

3. New evening ritual - Read ~2 pages of "Team of Rivals"...now on page 76...Lincoln still isn't President, but I have high hopes for the man.

4. Not sure if this is evening or morning ritual??? - Biological clock set for 2:30am, baby feeding now trumps dogs eating at 5:30am.

Always a Saints Fan

Never let it be said we are not Saint's fans...looking for three baby jersey's before the season starts.

Baby #3 Update

Still in a holding pattern, no changes from last week. Still a 20-25% chance of having him before next Monday. Most likely path is Ann will go to the hospital on 7/10 at ~7pm and we will have baby #3 by midnight on 7/11.

Appointment today!!! Big news coming!!!

Start placing your bets. Ann has an appointment today at 1:30...7/11 is the end date. I bet she comes this weekend. So I will take 7/8 at noon.