Happy Birthday Babes!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CASEY, MITCHELL & MAGGIE!!!

We made it!!! Everyone survived and is only so much better and stronger after this past year. At this exact time one year ago I was waiting in the doctor's office about an hour away from being told to go home, get my bags and my husband because the babies were going to be delivered that night!

We had our 1 year NICU follow-up appointment this past week. Their doctor was very happy with everyone. Mitchell is smaller, but he is not concerned about him. Here are their stats:
Casey
25 lbs. ~~ 80th percentile actual age (90-95th% adjusted age: 10 months)
29.75 in. ~~ 50th percentile actual age (80-85th% adjusted age)

Mitchell
20.6 lbs. ~~ 20th% actual age (40th% adjusted age)
29.25 in. ~~ 40th% actual age (70th% adjusted age)

Maggie
19.8 lbs. ~~ 30th% actual age (55th% adjusted age)
28.25 in. ~~ 25th% actual age (60th% adjusted age)

These are a few things I (we) have learned in this past year of raising our 3 babies:
~ a lot of the advise in books and by public health nurses is great, if you have only one baby at a time. If you have multiples, do what you have to get through the day (or until next nap/bed time!)
~ you can do a lot things without any free hands (your toes, feet, chin, knees, elbows, etc. become very handy tools)
~ just when you think you have the house baby-proofed 1 of the 3 are sure to find something that you missed
~ you become very good at multiplying and dividing by 3
~ when people say they can't imagine what life would be like with 3 babies, we can't imagine what life would be like with 1 baby
~ you just smile and keep walking or pretend as if you don't hear the comments when you are out in public...otherwise you have to add another 30 minutes onto your outing
~ you become a master multi-tasker
~ just when you think that this has to be the last poopy diaper to change in a day, you get a whiff of someone who has proved you wrong (14 in one day is our best so far)
~ 3 really is a charm

Daniel and I make a very good team, which I think is a big reason that things went as good as they did in this first year. As first time parents I think we adjusted pretty well to the huge changes in our life with 3 babies. Our family was also a huge help for us. We knew that we could call them anytime we needed some extra hands. Thanks guys!

It has been a great year, challenging at times, but something that we would never ever want to change. We cannot imagine our lives without Casey, Mitchell or Maggie. and feel so lucky to be blessed with 3 healthy and happy babies. We are so proud of how far they have come in this past year and are so excited for the future!