One Year Olds

It's been rough, challening, sometimes depressing and at times it seems hopeless. Now you look at the entire past year and it's all been worth it. Their smiles, their little sounds and cooing. Their looks of amazement at everything around them.
Their fight and struggle to grow and stay healthy from the time they were little embrios. Now a year later, its been all worth it. I would not do anything diferently. When we found out that Melissa was pregnant, there was no doubt or hesitation that we were having a baby (at the time). Once we found out that they were multiples, even then, there were no hesitations.
Now that they are turning a year old we could not be happier at the big event so we are going to celebrate in The Happiest Place on Earth. Disneyland!
the whole family is headed there with our big kids in tow. So they'll miss a couple of days of school. It will also be nice because we did not do anything with them during their summer vacation, (though they did plenty).
I got one more day at work which should be fairly quick and then off for a week. it will be good to clear my mind if at least from work related crap.
We'll be posting updates daily on Facebook.
Toodles!

My Life History in Chapters for my children

This list is for my children.
I know I cannot condense may years into one post, so I will try my best to do it in several posts. It isn't easy to remember every little aspect of some one's life particularly when that someone is 46 years old. But as we remember things and or dig into the past, we will fill many chapters.
Starting with

CHAPTER ONE
My childhood was spent in Mexico City from when I was about 5 or ever since I can remember. During that time, I remember the first few places that we lived right after my parents emigrated to The Capital from the State of Oaxaca. I had already done first grade back in San Miguel (Do you know how many towns and or villages are named San Miguel in the entire country of Mexico?) Google it.
So when I arrived in Mexico City I started second grade at an elementary school named "Heroes de Zacapoaxtla" in COlonia Moctezuma Segunda Seccion. Third grade was also in that same school, though if I remember well, I had to repeat second grade for some reason. Perhaps because Spanish was not my first language, but rather Zapotec. Interesting how history repeats itself with so many migrants coming from Mexico with their kids into the U.S. Of course neither speaks English so when they start school at an American school, they are at a disadvantage because of the difference in language.
There will be more about these early years in subsequent chapters. In the meantime, enjoy these tidbits of my first 15 years of memories(some not so memorable).

First Visit of John Paul II to Mexico City - I saw him from a distance.
Also spent an entire night in the basilica as a boy scout controlling and directing traffic inside the church (December 12-big day)
Disco Music - Disco Inferno anyone?
Mom and Dad splitting in 1976 - Many chapters will be written about this.
Queen Concert in the City of Puebla (Why not Mexico City?)
Kiss at Azteca Stadium
Star Wars, Jaws, Saturday Night Fever, Grease.
Dressing up as Kiss (Peter Criss) for Halloween.
After Disco came: Duran Duran, Culture Club and many more. Disco was dead.
MTV arrived - Cindy Lauper's Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - one of the first videos shown? - Video Killed the Radio Star, 99 Red Balloons.
Panasonic Boom box!
Later on Michael Jackson's Thriller.
Arrival of Cd's death of cassettes.
Sony Walkman
Jordache and Sergio Valente designer Jeans.
Dallas and Dynasty - never got into them - 6 Million Dollar Man (Lee Majors) yes. cool show.
Left/Communist Vs. US Supported governments in Central America.
Election of Ronald Reagan - at time it was feared that he would get us into a war with the Soviet Union - What? You don't know what the Soviet Union was?
My oldest sister gave me the saddest news upon returning from a vacation in the mountains (John Lennon had been shot)
I remember riding Trolleys in Mexico City. The kind they still ride in New Orleans.
Overthrow of Somoza in Nicaragua and arrival of Sandinistas in power - This after a widely viewed clip of a reporter being shot by a government soldier. Public opinion turned against US support for government in Nicaragua and that ensured the success of the Sandinistas.
Arrival of Gorbachev in power in Soviet Union and subsequent collapse of Union (Lech Walesa- Poland - also a catalyst force in the collapse of Soviets)
Fall of Berlin Wall.
Lost my appendix in 1985
Westin Bonaventure Hotel
Don't remember the first Shuttle launch, but do remember the explosion of the Challenger. sitting in my Aunt's couch and watching my cousins play (Jairo and Leslie)
First American friends - Mary Beattie, Vicky Basil, David Ewards - Weekends in Palm Springs.
Trip Across country - 4 weeks of driving in a 280Z (Mary's)
Checkers Hotel/Thomas Keller
Moved to South Pasadena
Went to Pasadena City College (Go Lancers)
Met your Mom.
Moved to Pasadena
Adopted Charlie (Cat)

More to come

"You Must Have Your Hands Full"

No matter who they are: family, friends, acquaintances, strangers, they all say the same thing when we mention we have triplets.
"You must have your hands full"
I'm definitely beginning to hate the phrase. Then it is followed by "Are you getting any sleep"?
Quite observant people, I Think to myself. Indeed, I am not getting enough sleep. Working weekends at the club prepared me for my now irregular sleeping pattern. Late into bed; waiting for Cecilia to wake up at 1:00AM before she goes down for the rest of the night, then an hour later to have Charlie wake up 'cause she is hungry. After she goes down, then if I am lucky, Catherine will sleep till 7:00AM, otherwise, 5:30 it is. So it is 1 hour of sleep, then 3, then up for the rest of the day 'till work beckons. Sometimes I can sneak a short nap before getting ready for work.
No i don/t have my hands full. If anyone has her hands full is my wife. In addition to caring for the babies, she has to contend with our teens along with the household duties that she has to deal with. She has more than full hands.
Throw in all the emotional feelings of abandonment each time I go to work, the dissapontment of having those close to her not be as helpful as they made it out to be and you have a very unhappy person. Yes, she has her hands full and when people point it out, it is rather annoying.

Charlie The 17 Year Old Cat

I had to put my cat to sleep. She was a wonderful cat. (I didn't know what else to post about Charlie) I think it was such an emotional moment that I did not want to relive it.
Post from June 18. This year
Charlie She was 16 years old when she passed.

MILESTONES

12,12 Cecilia
11.15 Charlie
13.8 Catherine

That is their current weight. Charlie can hold her bottle with both hands, take the bottle out and then put it back in. Catherine should be crawling anytime and is also sprouting a tooth. Cecilia is mellow and sweet. Not too much concern for wanting to hold her own bottle or roll around. All three have very strong necks and can hold their own while being held up. All three are eating solids (pureed) that Melissa prepares at home. They were baptized with their "aunties and uncles" as their Godparents.
They are all doing excellent, including their older siblings who finish the school year today and looking forward to their Summer vacations. Anthony unfortunately will have to attend Summer school.
Melissa and I happy as clams (How does anyone know about Clam happiness?)
You've been updated.

LIFE

Life is coming on fast. Big Kids are 12 and soon 13. Babies are 7 months today and growing quickly. Their personalities are beginning to show and it is quite interesting to see how they are each displaying a little bit of our own personalities while they develop their own.
It's been a crazy 5 months since they've been home. Malissa has had a rough time dealing with all three when there is no one home and I am at work. Unfortunately my job keeps me out of the house on average 12 hours each day, so by the time I come home, Melissa is exhausted from dealing with all babies. I try and help out by getting up in the middle of the night when one or two wake up to get fed.
We've also been busy with doctor's appointments which thank goodness have stopped in frequency. We have yet to purchase a minivan- looking for a specific kind at a price we can deal with (Remember - 1 income household now)So it is quite the trek when we are going somewhere with all 3 of them, being to church or appointments. Currently we have to take both cars with two babies in one and the third one in another car.
Melissa's mom comes to the house from time to time to help out. The kids also help out a lot. I think that combination has helped Melissa to maintain her sanity. On my days off, it is my turn to do most of the baby duties, though of course as long as Melissa is in the house, she helps.
Never for one moment in my life did I think I was going to be raising multiple babies. Sometimes when they are asleep or just sitting in their swings playing, I stare and stare in disbelief. What happened? How did it happen? Was this all planned by the all mighty God? because I didn't plan for this and neither did Melissa. I am not regretting it, I am just amazed at all the twists and turns that life takes. One day you are driving along PCH making plans to travel to exotic places now that the "kids are older" Next thing you know, you are installing car seats in your cars, setting up play pens, remaking a den into a nursery.
Life comes at you fast. You better be ready.

CECILIA

Cecilia has been home for 4 days now. Both Cecilia and Charlie should have been here but Charlie pulled out her G-tube completely out of her stomach. Of course this caused an infection somewhere in her tummy after the doctors replaced the G-Tube, so she was checked back into the NICU. This all happened Sunday. One day before they both were ready to be discharged. Both had passed all kinds of tests (including the car seat)..

I am posting this today December 9, 2011. (I started it on February- and never finished it)

ROUTINE

Its midnight.
Catherine has been wake since about eight at night and with each hour that passes, I hope she goes to sleep so I can put her in her bed.
There is only so many news channels or Great Discovery Channel shows you can watch before you are just completely tired and yet, she is still awake.
Every now and the she lets out a whimper which is bound to become a cry for food.
After eating (Do they eat at this age?) about two ounces of formula and a slight burp, she pretends that she is asleep.
Finally I can put her down so I can also go to sleep.
Wrong. As soon as I put her down she wakes up.
There goes another ounce of formula.
By now it is two o'clock and we both feel asleep. Me with a crooked neck and her over my chest.
I get up and take her to her room. Gently place her in her bed waiting for a loud cry but she only lets out a small cry. I wait by her crib in case she wakes up crying but this time I got lucky. It is now about two thirty as I climb into bed.
Melissa stirs into bed not knowing that in about three hours it will be her turn to change diapers, get a bottle ready with formula and start her day.
Hopefully I can sleep till about ten in the morning but also knowing that by eight, I will be up.
And this is only with one baby. Wait till the other two come home (Perhaps Sunday)

TRIPLETS UPDATE II

Last post here on Blogger was around Halloween and I have been fairly busy during all that time. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Visits to the hospital, family in town, Vacation at work, Stressing from work, you name it.
I've been waiting to keep this blog a little more up to date with the goings on around my babies (Well, Melissa's babies too- she did most of the work).
Another milestone is quickly approaching. First it was the birth of the 3C's, then came the arrival of Catherine at home. That was back in early December. Throughout all that time, Cecilia and Charlie haven't had such a great time at the hospital, though they are growing at a good pace, 8 pounds back and forth lately, they are having issues with keeping their food down. The doctors have changed their formula to a heavier cereal type and that has helped, some days the eat all of their bottle without spitting up and some days, they just do not want to eat. At this rate they could stay in the hospital for a while and we do not want that. We've been expecting them home for well over a month now and there is no progress.
So, the milestone now is going to be a quick operation on them to install a feeding tube while also tightening the top of their stomachs to avoid any more acid reflux.
This is going to allow for them to come home. We hope that this will help them get over their issues while they get all the personal attention they need and crave.
They've been off of oxygen for a while, so the only issue has been the feeding and their issue with reflux- Charlie more so than Cecilia.
It's been rough the last couple of months. With splitting time between work, home, hospital visits at 11:00 or 11:00PM (After I get out of work)and also tending to our two pre-teens, who are a great help.
It is also rough on Melissa on the weekends when I work long hours and into the morning; which means when I get home all I want to do is sleep, but since it is the time when Catherine wakes up to eat, I stay up with her usually into 6-6:30 in the morning. I am not complaining. She is a great baby so far.
She sleeps at regular intervals so we know when she'll be asleep, crying, or eating, sometimes she will also stay up and just chill for a good three hours.
All of that is going to change when Cecilia and Charlie come home. It is going to take a huge adjustment for all of us. As of right now, I am on medical leave for a few weeks to help with their care and transition into home. Once we settle on a routine for them, it will be time to go back to work.
Until then, I hope to keep you updated more often in the next feww weeks.

Halloween and Dia de Muertos Images

From Den to Nursery.

Different stages of the room conversion. It used to be my den/office and with the upcoming arrival of the girls, the room had to b e turned into a nursery. A big task considering that it was a room with 3 walls and a big opening into the living room down below. My father in law and brother in law offered to help out (They are contractors) so what seemed like a big task for me turned out to be a quick side job for them. Of course they did it for the girls and they will eventually know that.


What the room looked like to begin with after a first attempt at painting it (Melissa) with a fairly dark brown color. - An unfinished project since we did not care for the color once it went onto the wall.





Rick after removing the glass panels and measuring for new walls



Scaffolding up to place sheet rock and later for painting





Closet framed and in place




Walls finished, textured, painted and ready for removal of scaffolding.










Door in (needs a knob)


Contrasting colors


Wooden floor ready to go down

TRIPLETS UPDATE

Hello all.

The Girls are doing wonderful according to the doctors despite the PDA -technical term for their little heart issue-.

Nothing that the doctors haven't seen, particularly with multiples. However, our babies are doing well including beginning feeding from their mom's milk.
Of course the doctor also explained that the babies will do well one day then they may have a bad day on another time, etc. But overall, they are on the right path.

Thank you for your thoughts.

Now on to finishing their nursery.

CHARLIE

Charlie was the last baby that the doctors found at the beginning of pregnancy and once we spoke to the specialist, the suggestion was made to consider terminating 1 baby because of the inherent dangers of carrying triplets. Charlie was also the smallest of all three babies but eventually she gained up on Cecilia on weight and size.

Charlie so far is having issues outside of the womb. her heart rate is slightly higher and the pressure in her little lungs is higher than expected. According to the doctors, a couple of valves that should have closed after birth have not done so and that may require medicine and or surgery. This is worrying Melissa and me as well, though our reactions are different. She is the mom who's carried them all this time so her being upset is more natural and warranted.
We've also seen them, touched them, and spoken to them. A connection has been established so the though of loosing any of them is upsetting.

I'm just rambling here.

I am worried
i don't want our babies to suffer much less to die.
We re hopeful that she will be fine and no surgery will be needed.
We need all prayers and support for her right now.

Melissa is doing great in recovery. She's been walking around the maternity floor and throughout on her own. Hopefully she will be out of the hospital by tomorrow or Sunday the latest.

I am a father of natural triplets

Today October 13, I became a father again for the second time. Only this time to 3 little girls.
Catherine Elia, Cecilia Marie and Charlie Lucille. They were born right before 11:00pm right at the 29 week mark. We were trying to hold out a little longer but I guess they were eager to make their grand entrance. Melissa's water broke on Saturday afternoon and she checked into the hospital. At the time, the doctors told her that she may have to be on bed-rest anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks. This in order to give the babies more time to develop. However it wasn't meant to be. Babies heart
Rate began to spike and Melissa was developing an infection so the doctor had to make a decision and deliver the babies.

Cecilia Marie - 2.8oz 14 inches at birth


Catherine Elia - 2.11oz 14.4 inches at birth


Charlie Lucile - 2.5oz. 15 inches at birth


I will update with more details as they progress.

ON TRACK

All good with the babies, though Melissa is getting more uncomfortable as she gets bigger.
Last week's visit to the doctor made things a lot more real when he said that the babies were doing so good that if there were any issues and they had to come out, they would be "OK", of course with a prolonged stay at hospital. Knowing that they could be here anytime made us realize that the house was nto ready to receive them. The following day we went to the store, got paint, looked at flooring, and began to move everything out of the den.
Pictures above are o fthe room to change and Anthony and his Papa(Grandfather) helping with remodeling.