Wimpy White Boys and Super Duper White Girls

Well, it's official. Wimpy White Boys really do exist. At least, that is what we have been told with regard to premie babies and the Fordham's have lived up to the billing. You see, out of all races and both genders caucasion males tend to take the most time to leave the hospital and go home. It's something in our genetic makeup that tells us white boys to take our time learning basic life skills such as swallowing or regulating our heart rate. Can you guess who does the best? Well, if you are reading this blog posting and comprehending it at all you would be remiss if you did not say caucasion females. And if super duper white girls was the first thing that came to your mind when I asked that question then give yourself a gold star b/c you would be right. For some reason the fairer of the sexes appears to be the stronger of the sexes as well. Of course, I am not talking about physically but from a genetic standpoint. And from that standpoint us "whimpy white boys" can't hold the genetic jock of our prettier selves. So, with that being said, I Will simply waive my white flag acknowledging that we, being men, are truly the weaker sex. Women, you are prettier, smarter and honestly you smell a lot better than us dudes out there. It's with this realization that I am proud to announce to the world that KT and i's baby girl Maggie came home today. She simply kicked NICU butt and came home after a mere 5 weeks! Think about that for a second. Technically, Maggie Lyn is only at 36 weeks and if she were born today she would be viewed as a month premature. Yet, our little girl told the hospital "asta la vista" earlier today. I even think I heard her tell the nurse that she "really appreciates all everyone did for me but I'm ready to go home now. My daddy needs me so I'm going to go home and get moved in". In fact, she is sitting in her nap nanny right now next to me as I write this and she just wanted me to tell everyone that she appreciates your thoughts and prayers and she knows they worked. There is no way she could have done so well if it wasn't for your strength. She said she misses her brothers but knows her wimpy white bros will be here shortly.

So, let's all give a big round of applause for our little Super Duper White Girl Maggie!!!

Mamma and Daddy luv you and are proud of you precious girl

Rooming Inn at the Hospital with Maggie

It was a long night and I cut my toe open on a chair!

Maggie being Rolled Out!!

Welcome Home 

She is so Tiny

She is Happy to be Home

To Cute

Mamma and her sweet baby girl

In her own bed for the 1st time

First Month

Wow! Its already been a month since the our three angels joined our world. I can't believe it. Seriously! 1 month already in the books. Where did it go? It has gone so fast. It seems like just yesterday I was sitting outside the delivery room talking to country Joe about getting tubes tied and why it doesn't work. Was it really 30 days ago that I held my wife's hand and tried desperately to stop it from shaking like a leaf as our three miracles let out their first cry. 30 days since I first set eyes on our three beautiful babies and looked to my wife to assure her that they were perfect. Has it really been 720 hours since my life's purpose crashed onto my head like a tidal wave spit out of Hurricane Irene's angry eye. Or 43,200 minutes since I felt a love so big in my heart that I literally became concerned that it might burst. Has it really already been 30 days since I became a Father? How does time go bye so fast? Can't I just freeze it, if only for an instant, so I can capture your beautiful faces in my mind and place it so deep in my memory vault that no matter what happens to me for the rest of my life I know in a split second I can access those sights and relive the pure love and joy I felt over and over again. It has been an amazing first month. Every nurse that takes care of you guys absolutely raves about how good all of you are. All we hear every time we come down is that the entire NICU nursing Department is fighting over who gets to take care of the Fordham Triplets. Several nurses have told us that in their 10 or 15 or even 20yrs of experience they have never seen or taken care of a set of Triplets that are so easy. All of you are amazing. Maggie, you took 80ml of formula today in 10 mins. Larkin, your getting so big that I'm afraid by the time the DR discharges you that you will simply stand up and walk out. Kade, your curiosity at this world so far has been a wonderful thing to experience. Every day we come to visit you just open your little eyes and take everything in. Yes, it has TRULY been an amazing first month.

In the past month alone, the three of you have already lived through some of our history's greatest events.  You were witness to the greatest Debt crisis our Government has ever experienced. Global stock markets have been more volatile than an Alaskan king crab boat in the middle of a Nor'easter. You were in your beds while the single greatest mass shooting (In Norway) that our world has ever known took place. As I type this paragraph right now the news on the downstairs TV bellows in the background about mass evacuations up and down the eastern seaboard caused by Hurricane Irene's brutal path. A child murderer was set free, a famous singer with beehive hair died unexpectedly, the NFL ended its lockout and the TN Vols received only probation after a 2yr investigation into their former coaches unethical ways.

However, not everything in the past month has been bad. Even though there are times it can seem that our world is filled with hate and violence sometimes feels like it permeates our culture the same way a morning fog blankets a riverbank I am here to tell you that our world is also filled with a lot of the opposite. And never has it been more apparent than it has been over the past month with the three of you. We have had our dinner paid for by a stranger, received money from people at a church we have never heard of, had family come over every day to help paint your nursery and clean out the wreck room and garage (Thanks Mimi and Deda!!!) We have received at least 30 days worth of casseroles and dinners so that KT and I can focus on the three of  you when you get home. Other family's with multiples have reached out to us in an effort to help any way they can. We have received more monogramed gifts than I personally knew existed in the world. (Binky's, Bunnies, Blankets, Pillows, Towels just to name a few) We constantly have friends and family ask if they can help in any way. I have heard from friends of mine that I havent seen or talked to in 10+ years asking if they can help out. It truly has been AWESOME! I can tell you right now without a doubt that KT and I may end up being terrible parents but you will not go unloved. There are hundreds of people out there right now, many reading this, that have never met you and already love you. You three are very very special. God gave you to us for a reason. While I may not quite understand all of that reason just yet, I do know one thing. Part of it was to change the way I view the world. Yes, its been a month already. It flew by thats for sure. I can't wait for the hundreds of next months that lie before us. Happy one month Kiddos!

Daddy

Larkin, Maggie and Kade

Only Kade was awake

You think Larkin needs a Deuce?

Mamma and her Babies

The Fam is all here!

Proud Pappa!

Grandma JP with the Trio

I don't know about you but I think I may cry they are so dang cute :)

Kade

Maggie

Larkin

Weigh In

29 Days after birth lets check in with the Kiddo's and see what they weigh! I'm all about numbers so I'm going to give you some rough calculations along the way.

Here we go :)

First Up:

Then: Christopher Larkin - Born 7-26-2011 at 7:58 A.M. (In the year of our Lord - Always wanted to say that) weighing 4lbs 0ozs

Our Little Beefcake

Now: Christopher Larkin - 6lbs 2.6ozs

6lbs! Shoot, I'll be 10 before you know it!

Larkin has gained 2lbs and 3ozs in the first month. That is a total of 35 ozs or 54% of his body weight. If I gained 54% of my body weight over the past month I would have gained 124lbs!!!

Baby Girl

Then: Margaret Lyn - Born 7-26-2011 at 7:59 A.M. weighing 3lbs 14ozs

Watch out Boys!

Now: Margaret Lyn - 5lbs 6ozs

Thank Goodness I take after my Mamma!

Maggie has gained almost 2lbs since she was born! She is so so so pretty and the best bottle eater in the world :)

Ladies Man

Then: Benjamin Kade - Born 7-26-2011 at 8:00 A.M. weighing 3lbs 8ozs

Peace out Hommies

Now: Benjamin Kade - 5lbs 11ozs

Holla if you hear me!

Kade is our biggest gainer in terms of percentage. From 3.5lbs to 5lbs 11oz = 35 Total ozs or 62.5%!!!! That would equate to me gaining 143lbs in one month!

Wow! They are doing so good. Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers!

Rhett

First Baths!

Nurse T: Good Morning Boys and Girl! How is everyone doing? Did you sleep well?

Kade: Hey Nurse Tammy! I feel great! I slept so so good. I bet i gained a whole 2ozs last night!

Nurse T: Wow Kade! You are so smart. You are exactly right. You did gain 2 ozs last night. Can you believe you now weigh 5lbs and 3 ozs!!

Kade: Yippppeee! 6lbs here i come! I'm gonna be home in no time.... Not that i want to leave you nurse Tammy. Your the best :)

Nurse T: Aww Kade. Thats sweet of you to say. You must take after your mother. (At least thats what she tells me :)

Larkin: Nurse T. Nurse T!!! Over here. over here. guess what? I slept so well too! And you know what else? My dad told me that i must be the best sleeper ever b/c every time he comes to see me my head gets bigger and bigger. He told me that even though i look like him i must be smart like my mom. He then said there is no way for a child to have a head that large and not have a big brain. I think his exact words were "good god woman that childs noggin is large. I pray to the almighty above that he gets his smarts from you cause if he takes after me with a melon like that his only chance is to swing a mean bat or be a good form tackler." I'm not really sure what all that meant but i do know its good to have a big brain.

Nurse T: Thats right Mr. Larkin. It is good to have a big brain. However, there are a lot of people in this world with big brains that don't know how to use them. (Insert joke about politicians here)... I can tell you one thing though. You do have the best mamma in the world. She certainly knows how to use her "noggin" and if you take after her your gonna be A ok!

Maggie: Yawn!!! Streeeeeetch.. Aww good mornin everyone. I'm glad all you guys slept well. I wish i could say the same but it would be a lie. Tweedle dee and Tweedle dumb over here kept me up all night making all kinds of crazy noises. Noggin over there must have sneezed 50 times and pretty boy sleeps like a lumberjack. I know they are my brothers and all but can't a woman get her own room for a night? Is that really to much to ask for? I mean geez!

Nurse T: Now Maggie. Be nice. They are men after all and as you will learn men can sometimes be easily compared to pigs. Or bears. Or even Hyena's. They can be dirty and smelly and do make a lot of funny noises. Don't worry though. They are good for some things. They can pick up heavy boxes. They mow the lawn. They even buy you pretty things if you are nice to them! You'll figure all this out soon enough.....
Anyway, guys i have good news today! Your mamma and daddy are on there way down to give all of you baths!! Isn't that exciting!

Kids In Unison: Yippppeeee! Baths. We love Baths!

Nurse T: Thats right they will be down here in the next twenty minutes so make sure you are on your best behavior. Kade and Larkin. I'm talking to you guys. If you have to pee please go ahead and do it now. We don't want a repeat of last time. No one likes to be peed on. Even if it is during a bath

Kade and Larkin: Yes ma'am Nurse T! We promise not to pee on mamma.

Nurse T: Ok kiddo's, just hang out and we'll be ready to rock and roll shortly

Kade: Yea!!!
Larkin: Right on Nurse T!
Maggie: Make sure they have my bubbles. a princess is nothing if she doesn't have her bubble bath :)

Sweet Maggie

Whoa. That water's warm!

One word. Beautiful!

Don't forget to get behind my ears

Sweet Mommy

All Better

Handsome Kade

Whoa. Careful with the hot water momma

I love you mommy

Any of you ladies out there wanna join :)

Dang I'm Handsome

Back to sleep. Catch you later guys!

My Man! Larkin

I dont even need to wake up for my bath

Mommys the best

Budha! Budha! Budha!

Yep! Thats how i roll. Laid back folks

Aint nobody dope as me I'm just so fresh and so clean

Pictures.. per request by the 'walking women'

Larkin

Kade 

Thanks Bebe for my cute car onesie! Love Larkin 

Monkey Man - Kade 

Maggie in her cute jungle outfit 

Maggie