Eighteen Months

Esther is 18 months.

Normally I am so excited for the 18 month mark mainly because I get to go to my church classes alone. But when Tyler was called as Bish and I got knocked up with 3 babies, the nursery Grandma's felt sorry for me and have been letting her come for 3 months now. So she's a pro already. And what a fresh breath of air compared to Alex. Alex cried for the first year of nursery. And I wish I were exaggerating. Esther has absolutely NO problem at all.  Esther is awesome. She's easy.

Esther sings.
Her favorite songs to sing are Happy Birthday to you, I like to eat eat eat, apples and bananas, ring around the rosies, and wheels on the bus. I've even heard her in the back of the car trying to sing the chorus of some FUN. songs.

Esther talks.
Unlike our slow talker.... She mimics just about everything we say. Plus she's working on sentences. Her new one is "I don't want to....." or "I don't want it".

Esther sleeps.
She's followed in her siblings footsteps. I think the last time I got up with her in the night was when she was 4 months old. Even when she doesn't feel well, she sleeps. Her nap is always 3 hours long and I usually have to wake her up so she's not up all evening.

Esther pee's.
I don't know if it's because she drinks almond milk instead of whole milk but she has stinky pee always.  She's probably just not drinking enough is what it is. She's not really a drinker but more an eater.

Esther idols.
Yes I would say she is probably Alex's biggest fan. Sure it's probably because the other kids are at school but she just follows that kid around all day long doing whatever he's doing. They play so well together.

Esther grew.
Height: 32 inches (60%)
Weight: 23.3 lbs (35%)

Definitely the cutest Esther I know.

I got spanked and Alex got sick

It all started 2 Fridays ago. We were at Costco and Alex all of the sudden started complaining his stomach hurt. This really isn't that uncommon with him and usually a trip to the bathroom fixes the problem right up. But it didn't. We finished our shopping and were waiting for our pizza at the snack bar when he said he needed to throw up. So Tyler rushed him to the bathroom and he did in fact throw up. 

I was already getting flustered. I thought at any minute this kid could throw up on the Costco floor and for some reason our pizza was taking extra long. I told Tyler load the kids and our groceries and I'll wait for the pizza. 

As soon as the pizza was done I headed for the door. As I was passing the customer service desk I did notice this kid in his early 20's using the Costco phone. Right when I walked outside the door I saw Tyler waiting with the van out front. Then all the sudden someone from behind me spanked my bum cheek. For that split second I was so confused because I could see Tyler in the van. So who just spanked me? 

That kid that was using the phone is who spanked me. Immediately I said, Did you just spank me? He giggled and kept walking to his car. The whole time I was looking at Tyler like tell me you just saw that! Of course he didn't. We just laughed the whole way home and I think I spanked myself, you know to see what the kid felt. And I think it was pretty firm because I was walking.

Anyways, I'm not sure if the pizza was covering my overgrown belly or maybe he's just into that sort of thing but I was spanked at Costco.

So we get home and Alex immediately wants to go to bed. Tyler got up with him that night and I think he threw up maybe 3 more times. The next day I treated him like he had the stomach flu. Trying to keep everyone away from him. He never threw up again but at this point the fevers started. 

Sunday came and I thought he would wake up totally better but he wasn't and so I stayed home from church with him. Tyler is gone ALL of Sunday so it was especially hard. Finally around 6pm I said I'm taking him in. So I took him to our Pediatrician's after hours clinic. Steve saw him and suspected what I had been googling all day Appendicitis. All the symptoms just fit.

As soon as I got him in the car heading to Primary Children's I told him I have to take him to the hospital. He said "I'm better Mom, I'm better." Then he just started chatting my ear off. I thought well geez is he really feeling better? I told myself I would give it one more night and if the next morning he was still in pain I would have Tyler take him in.

3am rolls around and Alex comes in our room in pain and burning up. Tyler just got up and loaded him in the car. I went back to sleep, waiting for any updates, knowing it would take hours for any results.

They first do a blood test to check white blood cell count and in fact his results showed he was fighting an infection. I got to the hospital right about 9am and that is when they were taking him in for an ultrasound. The ultrasound showed his appendix did not rupture or explode but that it was inflamed. So they scheduled surgery around noon.

Fact: Primary Children's does around 500 appendectomy's a year. Fact: The average age is 6 years old. Fact: They say it's totally random.

I had no idea?

They got Alex admitted into a room and we waiting for surgery. Surgery went good (I was at my baby appt). But when they got in there they did notice his appendix did perforate or tear. So it was worse that what we all thought. Meaning his stay would be longer. I'm guessing it tore at Costco or right after, because I guess you throw up because of the pain. Then when your appendix leaks it spreads infection therefore giving you more pain and fevers. Poor kid.

They told us he could be at the hospital for 3-7 days. So we had to try our best to re-arrange our lives. Which involved a lot of help from neighbors, watching Esther, dinners, visitors in the hospital. Kim of course helped a ton! I would try to be there all day and Tyler would stay the nights with him, getting hardly any sleep because of all the interruptions.

At first Alex seemed to be recovering slow. He didn't want to walk, eat, drink, pee or take his medicine. All the things they need you to do before they let you go home. He was on morphine for all the pain and then when he would fall asleep his sats would drop so we would have to use the oxygen. He was a mess. But after about day #4 he seemed to turn and make progress. So they let us go home on day 5. 

5 days seemed like forever but that hospital is seriously awesome. I never like to be there of course but when I am, I am constantly amazed.

This was Alex before we took him to the hospital on his death bed.

ER.

 Right before surgery when they gave him the good stuff.

 After Surgery.

 My view from our room.

 The Utah Jazz players came to visit.

 He was awake but wouldn't open his eyes.

 His girlfriend came to visit but he wasn't in the mood to spoon unfortunately.

 He needed 3 different IV's because his veins would eventually collapse and his hand would swell.

 I would get updates from all the friends who were watching Esther. THANK YOU so much. I missed that girl so dang much.

 Starting to feel better.

 First visit from his best friend.

Saying bu-buy.

 We were home not long before I wished I was back at the hospital.

 There was a package waiting for us from Nana when we got home full of goodies for the kids. Made our day!

Alex is doing much better now. Not completely normal but almost. We are just so glad it's over and so blessed it wasn't worse.

So the signs of appendicitis is:

First- stomach pain

Second- vomiting

Third- Fever

(In that order)

Tips it wasn't just the stomach flu:

Pain on the right side only

No diarrhea 

Vomiting only that first night

Know one else was sick

Stomach pain for 3 days

.TEAM BABIES.

FIFTEEN WEEKS

In the midst of all the chaos with our little Alex. I had an appointment to see the babies. It actually worked out perfectly. As soon as they rolled Alex away for surgery, I left for my appointment. So Tyler had to do the agonizing waiting game while my mind was on the well being of these three beautiful babes.

The babies looked awesome as usual. They all measured exactly to the day on time and they all measured exactly the same. How perfect is that? In the past the babies were always a few days smaller which is totally normal for triplets. But not his time and I'm showing it! They are growing great and so is my tummy. I definitely look way bigger than 15 weeks so I'm eager to tell the story when strangers ask.

Which happens a lot actually. It seams as though everywhere I go somebody asks how many kids this will make. They then get an unexpected earful but they always leave amazed and teary eyed. 

I'm feeling good! I figure this is the good time. I'm not sick and I'm not on bed rest. So I'm partying it up. Perfect timing for Christmas I guess. I suffer with varicose veins in my right leg when I'm pregnant so those are starting to become annoying but if I have my super attractive stocking on, I'm pretty good.

I seriously can't complain (yet). I'm really just enjoying the ride. 

Just to let you know baby A and B will always be the identical twins. A is whoever is closest to the cervix. And because they share the same sac gravity obviously pulls them down. So baby C will always be higher and the single baby. So I'm feeling some movement. Maybe a few times a day. I obviously can't tell the difference between baby A and B but when the movement is higher in my tummy I'm guessing it's baby C. 

BABY A

BABY B

BABY C

We really can't wait to find out what these little stinks are at our next appointment and to share it with our family Christmas morning. Such a special time for the first time parents!

:SANTA:

the turkey is actually my least favorite part

We always go towards the sun for Thanksgiving, to Nana and Papa's. The kids have no idea how lucky they are to have their Great Grandparents in their lives.

I think they completely fell in love with Esther just like we have.

 A lot of soccer games to watch Hudson play, where I managed to get a belly shot.

 My Grandparents live on a golf course and they feed raccoons every night. This night there were 7 that showed up. So fun to watch.

 One evening I walked into the family room and every one of my kids were being held by someone. A little spoiled since they are the only little ones running around.

Not a lot of pictures to show for it but we had a great holiday with our family!