hospital stay

I am sure that anyone who has had to watch a loved one suffer in pain would agree that it is the worst thing in the world to have to go through. These past few days were extremely tough.

As Lou alluded to in the June 11 post, Mateo's upper right lobe was not able to be extracted through the easier means of telescopes and small incisions.... They had to cut him open (i.e. he has an incision just under his breast bone that goes under his armpit and around onto his back) and remove it the traditional (but more painful) way.

I am still astounded as to how fast Mateo rebounded. He is truly a strong and resilant little boy and I am really, really proud of him. Hopefully, with this being done so early in his life, he will have little or no memory of what happened....

I also have to offer a "more than" hearfelt thanks to Aunt Liz and Uncle Jimmy for their help during this difficult time. They took care of the girls while Mateo was in the hospital to the point that the girls rather be with them, than me! It was such a relief to not have to worry about them while I stayed day and night with Mateo. Thank you will never be enough!

Mateo on day2 of surgery holding his favorite Lion.

Mateo on day2 of surgery holding Mr. Whale. Mr. Whale was with him during surgery and he slept with Mr. Whale every night in the hospital.

Mateo on day2 of surgery with Mr. Bear. Mr. Bear (upper right had side beside Mateo's head) traveled the miles from Cleveland to be with Mateo and give him the courage and strength to recover.

Mateo day3 of surgery. You can tell he is already feeling better!

Mateo day4 of surgery.. up and ready to go!

Mateo day 4.

Mateo day 4... thoroughly enjoying his cheeseburger

Update on Mateo

We just wanted to post this short note to let everyone know that Mateo is doing well. He had his surgery today, and although they couldn't do it thoracoscopically he is doing just fine. We hope to have him back home around Sunday.

18mo extravaganza

Alright...so it was a pretty small extravaganza. It included me and trio (Lou is out of town at a medical conference), strawberries (freshly picked yesterday by the trio and Uncle Jeremy) and some whipped cream. A child's delight. We needed to celebrate the milestone somehow.... I can't believe how fast time has flown. I barely remember them at 6mo of age... (isn't that sad?)


gabby, mateo, and mary

gabby & mateo

mary

who knew?

who knew that a newborn hoodie bath towel could be so much fun? The girls thoroughly enjoyed walking around with their new capes! (Gabby wouldn't sit still long enough for me to get a shot!)

see...mateo is standing on his own!

the last time for naked-ness

I am guessing that 18mo is the last time that I can actually post naked pictures of the babies... they LOVE their bathtime....

gabby, mateo, mary

gabby, mateo, mary

silly mary

i get so emotional, baby

I am not sure if it is because I am a mother to multiples...or just that I am a mother...

but somtimes I feel as if I can't love them enough. Their smiles, their laughs, their eyes... the way that they "find" my lap to sit on me... their chubby little legs and the way that they try to run away from me in the form of a game... I just can't hold them enough or love them enough.

ahem... and then there are those times... when I am beyond pure exhaustion... and I just don't know if I can take one more piece of food on the floor...or one more scream because a toy was taken away by a sibling...or constantly tripping over tiny bodies that seem to put themselves in the way while you make dinner... or finding them playing in the toilet bowl water or sitting on top of the dining room table...

the ups and downs of motherhood...
I am guessing that I am not alone...
and I KNOW that there are more ups than downs :)

how far we've come..

This past week was a busy one....and things won't slow down anytime soon. Mateo (along with the girls) came down with an upper respiratory infection which required several visits to the doctor. He is on breathing treatments with a nebulizer until our follow-up appointment this coming week. The girls ended up with just fevers that have now broken.

Lou leaves for a medical conference on Tuesday and will be gone for a week as I prepare for our first set of guests, Aunt Liz & Uncle Jimmy. Alone with the trio for the week- wish me luck.

With all the upcoming distractions (Mateo's lung surgery being 6/11 - he is having a lobectomy to remove the part with cysts), I am not sure I will be able to post as often over the next few weeks...so I want to do a quick summary of the babies as we near their 18mo mark. (18mo pictures from Sears to follow in the next few weeks.)

1 year ago - babies at age 6mo. Mary, Gabby & Mateo

Mateo Michael. Will you ever walk? You keep teasing us with your 3 step advances...and your slow, but steady "standing on your own." Your phase of throwing food on the floor seems to be subsiding (fingers crossed) and you love to drink fruit smoothies. You can finally sign the word "more" and have caught up to your sisters in knowing where your nose and toes are. You HATE to take naps...and need Mommy to rock you to sleep or rub your back. You are the biggest flirt with your mouthful of choppers and deep dimples. You light up the room when you smile and continue to wave "hello" with your hand facing yourself. You have the awful habit of pulling your sisters' hair and laughing when you get into trouble. You aren't detered when you can't do something and follow the motto "try, try, again." You love to talk gibberish and play with your sisters. I am waiting for you to say your official first word.

Mary Mistica. Mare-bear. Mary Misty. How is it that we have so many nick-names for you? Your brown eyes stare so deeply into ours... You are quite the passionate child. We know when you are happy, and we definitely know when you are sad. You have the biggest crocodile tears that I have ever seen...and they linger, even when you have stopped crying. You are an excellent eater and sleeper. You have the bad habit of thinking that you can have any toy that you want, at that moment - even if it means grabbing it out of your siblings hands. You know your body parts (head, nose, toes, belly) and can say "sissy" and "ball." We are working on other words, although you really don't show an interest... you rather be playing or bull-dozing over your sister and brother. You love to drink your warm milk at night and cooperate fully to having your teeth brushed. You have a smile that melts everyones heart.

Gabrielle Loreta. You are still our itty bitty. How is it that you can still wear 12mo clothes, but eat at the rate of your brother and sister? You are one smart cookie. Not only do you know your body parts (head, eyes, nose, belly toes) but you are eager to learn more, like shoulders and knees. You listen when Mommy talks and you try to help out as much as possible. You can saw words like "yeah" and "no", "ball" and "baby" , "more" - and you mean them. You may be the smallest, but you are the fiestiest. No one can hold you back from what you want to do....and you play hardball with both your brother and sister. You need to be rocked to sleep at night, and still sleep in your swing during naps (good thing you haven't exceeded the weight restriction.) You have a special blanket (actually, several favorite blankies) and like to sleep with any stuffed animal. You are starting to walk on your tip-toes. You find many things to be funny and your laugh is contagious to your brothers and sisters.


All of you know how to give kisses (even if it is "blowing" them) and hugs... and you enjoy the attention we get from friends, neighbors, and even the strangers when we go for walks. You all like to have mommy sing songs (poor people listening) and love to dance around to music. But most of all, you are all happy babies...and mommy is very lucky to have you.