First Outing

Well we finally did it...we came out of hibernation and went to church yesterday. It was very liberating to go out together as a family. We had plans to make our first outing Easter but decided we had better do a test run to be sure we could make it there in time. All in all it wasn't that bad. We just need to have a plan of action and be ready to go the night before:) We were immediately greeted at the door by all of our great friends and it was so nice to see everyone. The girls loved all of the attention but for some reason Carter wasn't too happy. He kept sticking out his bottom lip and by the time we were ready to go he had started to cry. I guess it was just a little overwhelming to him which is strange because he is usually the most social of the bunch. Lila stayed with Papoo, Maddie was talking up a storm to Lora Mae and Carter was snoring on Beth's shoulder. Needless to say we didn't have to hold a baby the entire service!! We are so blessed and grateful to have such a great church family!

Getting ready to go to church

The whole family....including the mags!


After church...exhausted!!

There is never a dull moment around this house. Everyone loves the toy below...it was a second hand steal and boy am I glad I got it...they love the mobile that is on it and below is a picture of Carter mesmerised by it. Carter is always talking up a storm and every morning you can hear him in his crib patiently waiting for his turn to eat and he is just talking to himself in the softest most sweetest little voice. He is defiantly a mama's boy and just smiles so big when he sees me!

And Miss Social Butterfly...you can't keep this girl quite. When Grammie Judy and Mamoo Hopperton feed her they can't look her in the eye b/c they can't contain themselves...they want to talk to her and Maddie talks right back and won't eat. She would much rather be chatting and looking around at everyone than eating. She has the most precious smile that takes up her whole face and is irresistible. Here is Maddie below looking adorable in her hat.

All of a sudden one day Lila decided to start lifting her head when on her belly. Now as soon as you lay her on her belly that head pops right up. Its as if she discovered something awesome. Here she is below raising her head up and looking so sweet! She isn't talking has much but has the cutest smile with some precious little dimples.

All of the babies love looking at themselves in the mirror. As soon as they see the mirror with that baby staring back at them they just start wiggling and laughing!!! They are also grabbing toys especially those that hang down from their playmats. Its so awesome to finally see them interacting so much. We are really looking forward to what the next few months will bring!

AND THE THUMBS....yep they all found them. Carter is a thumb sucker for sure...its ALWAYS in his mouth. When we go in to get him in the mornings from his crib he has it in his mouth, naps in his mouth and before bed in it goes. I have to say its pretty cute right now. Lila found her thumb as well but really just enjoys chewing and sucking on all of her fingers! And finally yesterday Maddie found hers...she has been working on it for quite some time but just couldn't quite get her thumb in the right place.

Finally we had an Easter photo shoot...we had to get all dressed up in our Easter outfits and take some pictures. The babies idea of course;-)

SISTERS...yes I did say I would never dress them alike but you have to admit this dress is adorable and they look pretty cute dressed alike. They have different colored cardigans and headbands though!!

Sleeping beauty...Lila

Carter...got the shaft...the girls were starting to fuss so we had to make his picture quick!

He looks a little frustrated with the whole situation:)
Angelic Maddie

Then clothes come off and the babies are HAPPY!!

The side smirk!

Lila eating her fingers

AH...I love being naked!

In just 12 short days the babies will be 5 months old on their daddy's birthday. Oh.... where has the time gone!

4 months old!

HOPLETS BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT

Its been a crazy month around here and finding time lately to write on my blog has been quite a challenge. The babies are becoming more active and are requiring much more of mommy's attention. I love that they want me to play with them and want me near them all the time but I have to get somethings done. So I get all geared up for when my mom or Brad's mom comes to stay with me while he is out of town working thinking I am going to get all of these things done. But that doesn't happen b/c its so nice to just sit and play with them and know that I have the extra help to get the necessities done...such as washing bottles and clothes and trying to get something to eat. Nursing mom's are very hungry and I think I eat more now then I did when I was pregnant...I guess I have the room now!


Their 4 month birthday was this past Tuesday and we went to see the pediatrician for their 4 month check up on Monday. They are developing wonderfully for their adjusted age (which is their age by due date...8 weeks old). They are holding their heads up (with a little or no support), kicking around, holding their hands together, cooing like crazy, smiling, grasping for things, and really focusing on toys and people.



Lila found herself in a mirror on a playmat today and it was the funniest thing. She was just staring at herself smiling and swing her arms and legs around...I guess she liked what she seen. She is doing so much better. She loves her little lamb swing (and this swing only)...in fact she sleeps in it. We try every night to put her in her crib and after 10 or 15 trips back into the nursery to console her we rush her out of the room before she wakes up her brother and sister. I guess we are at least trying to get her to sleep in her crib but sometimes you gotta do whatever it takes to get some sleep. Carter and Maddie go down so well....you can put them in their cribs awake and they will put themselves to sleep but not Lila...hopefully one day we will get there. She still has her fussy moments but is definitely spending more time happy then crying which is a relief for all of us. She smiles and has a very soft coo and loves to flap her arms and legs around.



Carter is the playmat junkie...he loves his playmat. You can lay him in there and he will stay awake until the next feed (3.5 hours) and just coo, smile, talk and just look around. When he is upset he sticks out his lower lip and melts my heart...but its also kinda cute. He is a talker too...he doesn't have to have anyone stimulate him he just lays or sits by himself and talks away.



Then there is Maddie...the overachiever who is scooting around...I can't walk away from her b/c I come back to find her in a different spot. She is also trying to hold her head up when laying on her belly. She must see everything that is going on...if you put her on your shoulder and walk around with her she just looks around and is as happy as can be. She is also fighting sleep and its so funny b/c her eyes will start to shut and then she will start screaming in hopes it will wake her up and she won't miss anything. She is on 26 calories (breast milk fortified with formula) and she burns every bit of it b/c she is so very busy...so it doesn't surprise me that its taking her so long to pack on the pounds. After she eats and when she finished eating she will start to grin at you and coo...she knows that we can't resist that and we stop feeding her to listen to her talk to us. As soon as I get this on video I will post it...however when she sees the camera she is distracted and doesn't do it.



So without further adieu here is the update:

Carter weighs 13 lbs 1 ounce and is 23 1/2 inches long

Lila weighs 10lbs 13 ounces and is 22 1/2 inches long

Madelyn weighs 7lbs 1 ounce and is 20 1/2 inches long



My babies are growing so quickly...I am glad to see Madddie gaining weight so well but I just feel like my babies are growing up so fast. We are very excited for the warm weather so we can finally come out of hibernation to visit some friends and family.

My Wildcats

Mom...what in the heck are you doing...


Future UK Twirler-Maddie

Very Big Bow

Future UK Sleeper- Lila

Passed out

Future UK Football Player-Carter

Maddie's scooting adventure; she started to the far left with her body under the pink blanket

Playtime

Bottles for 24 hours...its a little less now

Granny spiked my hair!!!

Our baby boy

Maddie Stealing sisters swing

Cousins

Our first walk...we love the warm weather

Lila

Carter

Maddie

Finally...we are walking in the March for Babies Walk on April 25th b/c we know prematurity all too well and hope that others do not find themselves in our situation. We are walking b/c we want to make sure that babies have their full 9 months! The March of Dimes mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. So if you are able please make a donation to our walk:

www.marchforbabies.org/hoplets

An exciting couple of days!

Its been exciting two days for the girls. Maddie went to Good Sam yesterday for a weight check and she now weighs 6lbs 12 ounces and is 19 1/4 inches long. So she has gained 1lb 2 ounces in just three weeks...no more Good Sam until the regular checkup at 6 months.
Lila has had a break though and lets just PRAY that it stays that way for awhile. She has been the BEST baby and has hardly fussed at all...she just appears to be so pleasant...her belly must finally be feeling better. She has also started cooing and smiling and loves playing on her playmat. It makes us so happy to see her wanting to play and smile.
Carter is getting bigger by the minute ...if I had to guess I would say he is 13 to 14 pounds. He is our little hauss...he has lived up to his inutero name...lol!!!

Fun Times!!!

Its been fun times in the Hoplet house lately and everyone is finally feeling well. Come on Spring hurry fast so we can get out of this house. We are ready to go on some adventures outside!


But in the mean time we will just take lots of pictures!

My precious gifts God!

Here's a little scoop on what the Hoplets have been up too....

Lila's fussing is beginning to get a little better...that or I am just getting use to it. I am starting to think that fussing is who is she and her way of communicating. She is just a needier baby than the others and craves our contact. So I have learned to just strap her to me and away I go with my chores. She's just mommy's little helper most of the time. She can put weight on legs and is cooing on occasion as well as smiling here and there. She absolutely loves her swing and I think she would be happy if we just left her in it 24 hours a day.

Madelyn's new thing is to fight sleep. She is just so afraid she is going miss something so she will start to cry as soon as her eyes start to close when its bedtime. When we put her in her crib for bed she will cry out and then as soon as we get up to go in she is out cold. Most of the time when she eats now she is too busy looking around to see what is going on to take her bottle. They are all starting to hold their heads up really well but Madelyn is the champ...she sits on your shoulder and just turns her head from side to side just taking it all in!!! She is also starting to smile at us when we talk to her which is just precious.

Carter is gooing, cooing and squealing...he is just full of conversation lately and I must say its the sweetest thing I have ever heard. The words of the day are "ooo" and "eww-ah". He LOVES his playmat...he get so excited when we lay him down on it. Just the other day he was in his activity mat laying on a boppy pillow carrying on a conversation and I look over and he is batting at the toys hanging from above. After awhile he started to get a little fussy so I moved the boppy back away from the toys thinking he might want a change in scenery and the next thing I know he has his head hanging off the back of the pillow trying to see the toys....I guess he wasn't ready to move. When he gets upset he has started sticking out his lower lip it crushes mommies heart when he does it but it is pretty cute.

We have recently made a big breakthrough in the sleep department. We still feed the babies every 3 hours during the day but are putting them down for bed at 9 and letting them sleep until they wake. So far they have been sleeping 5 to 6 hours and then we get up and eat and another 4 or 5 hours...they are usually up no later than 8...I can handle this arrangement. I really don't know how we did every three hours before!!

Babies 1st Valentine's Day!!!

Happy 3 months old!!!

The babies are 3 months old today!! Carter is starting to feel better and so far the girls haven't been sick. Mommy puts saline down their noses and plunges them every feed. Plus we have a steam bath or sit in the steaming bathroom twice a day. This has really helped Carter alot and I am hoping it keeps the girls healthy. Well this is all I have time for now...Lila and Maddie and not having a good night. They have been extremely fussy the past few nights. Just wanted to wish the babies a HAPPY 3 MONTHS...and post some new pictures!

Lila

Maddie

Carter

Carter when he wasn't feeling too good but he was being such a good sport

A little sideways wink!

Maddie being so cute!

No more oxygen

Maddie is OFFICIALLY off her oxygen. We couldn't be more happy that this day has finally arrived. We had actually taken it off about 2 weeks ago because she wasn't needing it...but the doctor said on Wednesday we could send the tanks back in a few weeks just to be sure she does okay without it!

Recent weight checks:

Maddie weighs 5 lbs 10 ounces

Lila weighs 8lbs 8 ounces

Carter weighs a whopping 10 lbs 10 ounces..yes in just 2 short weeks he gained 1 lb 1 ounces..what a BIG boy!

Carter is now fighting a cold. The good thing is that he doesn't have a fever and is eating fine so we are just praying that it doesn't turn into bronchiolitis and that he doesn't give it to the girls especially Maddie. Since they were born premature it could land them in the hospital b/c their little lungs are not strong enough to fight off the infection. We are currently giving them synagis shot which are for the RSV virus...it doesn't don't protect them against it but it gives them the antibodies that they are lacking to help fight the virus. I almost decided not to give them the shot this month b/c they are a total of $3800 a month (they actually get more expensive as they get bigger b/c they need a larger dose...this is just the cost for the remainder of the season) and they are to receive them from Nov-April until they are 2 years old. Insurance does pay 80% but that it is still very costly to us....so I guess this little incident was God telling me that I made the right decision to give them the shots despite the costs and that He will see us through

So please pray that we get through this little bug without any serious complications and that Carter feels well in a few days!