In utero our triplets were dichorianic and triamniotic meaning they had two placentas but each had their own sac of amniotic fluid. We were told that meant the two who shared a placenta were identical but the third was most likely fraternal. Basically it would mean that I dropped two eggs, both were fertilized and one split. We were so curious about multiples while I was pregnant and read everything we could on it. We bought and watched this really amazing video that National Geographic produced called Multiples In The Womb. It was so interesting and informative! It said that while fraternal twins (or in our case triplets) are more likely in a family with history of fraternal twins (in my case my grandmother was a fraternal twin), identical twins (triplets) are a complete "miracle of nature" meaning there is no scientific evidence of it being genetic or of any real reason behind it other than it being a miracle! Wow! We also read statistics that less than 6% of triplet pregnancies resulted in identical triplets.

When the babies were born and as they have grown we became more and more suspect that we might be part of the minority. Although Nate and Eli shared a placenta and Mitch had his own, Mitch and Eli looked so much alike we often got them confused. Their personalities are SO DIFFERENT as are their voices and body weights but their hair color, eyes, noses, and smiles are all so similar! We finally decided to have them tested to see if they were indeed all identical. We used the company Proactive Genetics. It cost us a total of $160. From the time I ordered the kit, to the time we had an answer it was less than two weeks. As it turns out........

That's right! Identical Triplets! We are part of the small percentage of scientific miracles :) How exciting!

You may remember my post about our sleep issues not too long ago. Though we had tried every trick in the book, our boys refused to sleep. It would take hours to get them to sleep and then they would wake up several times a night, not to mention they hardly napped at all during the day. Nightmare! But finally, at 18 months, we have relief! We have sleepers!! And GOOD sleepers too! So what changed?

In late April we moved from our two bedroom condo into a much larger house. The boys still share a room but at least we have a door to close! But with the move our sleep trouble just got worse and worse. For several weeks after we moved I got less than 2 hours of sleep every night because the boys just kept waking up. We finally broke down and decided to hire a sleep specialist. After a little research and some recommendation from other MoMs, we hired Dr. Jillian Childres to come to our home and give us some help.

Dr. Jillian is a local licensed psychologist who specializes in infant and toddler behavioral development. She came to our home and observed our night time routine and behaviors. During her visit she witnessed one baby who fell asleep with his bottle only to wake up the moment I lay him in his bed. She witnessed another baby drifting off to sleep as I held him in the rocker and then watched him suddenly vomit all over me, himself and the floor. She watched as the third baby just stayed awake with absolutely no sign of being tired, who was still awake when she left our home at almost 10pm. This was a typical night for us.

During this first visit, between the vomit and the crying, we talked in length about all we had done thus far to get these babies to sleep. When all was said and done, though she had a few minor pieces of advice, she basically admitted that she was stumped. She said we were doing all the right things, all the things she would normally suggest. She believed it was physiological and not necessarily behavioral though many of the "bad" learned behaviors were resulting from the physical symptoms. She suggested we get them to the pediatrician, gastroenterologist, and the ENT to have all things physical checked into and ruled out that would cause sleep disorder. She recommended we adjust our daytime schedule and our feeding schedule. And of course, recommended that we get rid of bottles.

Well, long story short, the culprit was reflux all along. We put the boys on reflux meds (Prevacid 15mg once a day) and also on allergy meds to help with the nasal congestion and post-nasal drip (Childrens Zyrtec once a day). We began a regimented schedule with strict mealtimes, feeding them their last meal earlier in the night giving at least 2 hours before they went to bed for the food to digest properly. We eliminated milk at bedtime and then eliminated bottles altogether. And then--- the big one--- we let them CRY IT OUT! That was the toughest part and we were really nervous about it.

During Dr. Jillian's second visit she helped us work out some kinks in our plan before we fully implemented it. Matt had read an article about the cry-it-out method and how it damages a child's pysche due to feelings of being abandoned. She helped us understand the capability of a toddler's mind for feeling emotions like abandonment and hopelessness. Toddlers aren't intellectually developed enough to feel those kinds of complex emotions. They scream and cry because they want something and aren't getting what they want. When we immediately respond to bedtime crying we are giving them what they want - attention, being held, a bottle, etc. even though those things may not be what is best for them at that moment. She equated it to them asking for candy, us saying no, them throwing themselves onto the floor in a tantrum, and then we say "Oh sorry I made you cry, here is the candy you wanted." Yeah. Not good.

When we had tried cry-it-out in the past we failed because the boys would cry so hard that they would vomit, then we had screaming babies covered in vomit. But with the new meds, new schedule, and not giving them milk before bed, the vomiting has ceased! And so when we let them cry this time around, it worked. This first couple weeks were rough. But it got easier and easier as time went on and now we are at the point where we say to the boys, "ok it's night night time!" and they will follow us into their bedroom and hold their arms up to be put into their cribs. Rarely are there tears, and they fall asleep within 20min. Best yet, they sleep ALL NIGHT! When they do occasionally wake up, I give them at least 10min of letting them fuss to give them the opportunity to self soothe themselves back to sleep. In the morning, they wake and talk and play with each other for awhile until I wake up enough to go get them. At nap time, its the same. At 11am we put them in their cribs, rarely any tears, and they are napping for at least an hour and half most days. It is bliss...

So here is our schedule for those of you MoMs out there who have asked me:
6am - Babies wake up.
7am - I get them out of bed, change them, and give them a sippy cup of milk.
730am - Breakfast
8am - Play outside (weather permitting)
9am - Art time (coloring, painting, stickers, etc)
10am - Snack with sippy cup of juice
1030am - Story time and then diaper changes.
11am - Nap
1pm - Lunch with sippy cup of milk.
130pm - Free play with a video on (usually Elmo or Signing Time!)
230pm - Sensory Playtime (Anything from the sand table or playing in the sprinkler to finger painting with pudding)
3pm - Snack with sippy cup of water and reflux meds.
330pm - Free play (while I clean up a bit) and then some guided activity such as puzzles, block building, etc
5pm - Dinner with sippy cup of milk or pediasure if meals have been lacking that day.
530pm - Free play with a video or music (while I make dinner for the rest of the family)
630pm - Bathtime
7pm - Allergey meds, teeth brushing, storytime.
730pm - Bedtime

That's it. That's the magic formula that has allowed us to finally get some sleep in this house. I couldn't be happier.