Couture Trio

Two at Two - Not so Bad!

2010-01-21T07:56:00.027-05:00

I've started a new post several times, never finished and then new milestones pass. I won't waste anyone's time with a drawn out update because pictures are way more fun than anything I have to say. How's this - all are happy, healthy and life is good. Age 2 has a really bad reputation and so far the boys are defying the odds - yay for all of us! They are happy, love to dance and quite please with the new 50s diner that Santa brought. Thomas the Tank Engine has also recently rolled in to take on some water and so that is our latest obsession. Happy 2010 to everyone and much love from New Hampshire!

Sun in the Summertime - Finally!

2009-07-20T21:00:00.003-04:00

Summer has been full of all kinds of fun. We've spent time with friends in Buffalo, gone to the Cape and even managed an impromptu playdate with the extended Union family of honorary cousins, Aunts and Uncles. Fortunately, despite all the rain in June, we've managed to get a little sun and be outside.

Austin has quite a few words (no, shoe, juice, bear, pool, more, mama, dada, banana), where Chase is determined to speak in phrases. He can babble through an entire meal and still manage to finish his food. We aren't sure what he's saying but he talks with his hands and seems quite intent on getting his point across. They are still using their sign language but less and less with more verbal expression coming into daily requests.

The boys have a little car and I'm thinking an ant farm is in their future given their fascination with these creatures. Maybe next summer, but not in our house! Sorry Aunti Lys - I know this must horrify you! Finally, we are able to enjoy some of the local playgrounds. It has taken a while to make a trip to these fun spots worth it. The boys love slides, Chase could swing for hours and any suspended bridge gets lots of attention. We're thinking Story Land is in our fall plans? Anyone want to come with? I hear there is a fun water area there so maybe September?

August is hopefully going to be low key. The boys will get to see both of their great grandmothers and all their Union friends. Almost 20 of us with kids in tow for a whole weekend - should be a blast!

Here are some shots of our latest escapades. Enjoy and keep doing the sun dance - it's working lately!

Happy Father's Day Papa!

2009-06-21T23:31:00.004-04:00

June has brought a great spring/summer mix of weather until recently when the sun decided to play a fierce game of hide'n seek. Eventually, we'll find out where it's hiding! Luckily, we have a deck for the boys to play on and a fun climbing apparatus/slide to keep them busy, courtesy of their friend Hunter who has since outgrown the toy. The Step 2 climber comes inside easily and has been a savior lately when outdoor play just isn't an option.

We celebrated Father's Day with a special meal, get this, prepared by Dan. His choice! He made fantastic potato salad, sliders and coleslaw, courtesy of Tyler Florence. Being a Food Network junkie, this is what made Dan happy so we let it happen. After all, it was his special day.

Austin and Chase are 19 months old now and are doing great. They are running all over the place and we are finally learning what twin-speak is. They crack each other up and giggle so hard that sometimes, we feel a little left out. It is so fun to watch them explore the world around them with more maturity and truly enjoy each other's company. Their favorite toys are still books. They can "meow" like a cat and "cluck" like a chicken but as for talking...they're holding out on that for a little longer. Hopefully, this isn't a sign that procrastination will be in in their future. Austin is having his adenoids taken out and ear tubes put in on Wednesday, June 24th. We're hoping this kicks his chronic ear infections and gives him a little more room in his throat.

The boys are still loving their daycare arrangement with a local mom who has a dog, cat and lots of toys. Here backyard is like going to a park and sometimes I think they want to stay there when I pick them up at night. We are greatful for Lori!

We recently attended an ICN reunion and heard many stories like our own. It's amazing how common prematurity is but it was great to see all of these kids running around together. We met some nice families and hope to bring the boys back for years to come, giving current families hope for their own children to lead normal lives.

The summer is packed full of fun activites. We're heading to Buffalo for the 4th of July and then the Cape for the rest of the week. We have a few other weekend trips planned and lots of house projects. However, getting those projects done is extremely difficult. Thank goodness for the afternoon nap or else this place would be a royal mess all the time!

Here they are, our baby boys all grown up. We cannot believe they are toddlers already. They look to the sky when an airplane buzzes by and chase ants around on the deck. They throw full out tantrums and swipe toys from each other but just when we've had enough, they give us the sweetest kisses in the world! Does it get any better?

Spring has sprung!

2009-04-22T12:07:00.012-04:00

Finally, An Update!

2009-01-24T14:10:00.030-05:00

Yay - we're one!

It's noon somewhere...

Peekaboo!

Austin is checking the nutritionals before daddy starts Saturday morning pancakes.

Ok, so I haven't posted for a while. I have one simple explanation - I was searching for a job and have subsequently gone back to work full time. And I thought I was busy before...

The boys are walking (started around Christmas) and trying really hard to talk. They have lots to say but it comes out in a language we don't quite understand yet. While Austin and Chase continue to differentiate themselves personality wise, they are still trending similar in size, 21 lbs. and 31" tall. They are average for their age and that alone is impressive.

We're still on two naps a day and eating everything in sight. We officially haven't found anything they won't eat, well, except birthday cake. They do not take after their mother with that trait as I've never met a baked good I didn't like :) Formula is a thing of the past and bottles are slowly being replaced by sippy cups at all meals.

We bought the boys a picnic table to do crafts on, eat snacks and play, but they've discovered it's far more fun to stand on the table. They are one step away from proclaiming "king of the mountain" and beating their chests when they reach their destination - unbelievable the instincts these kids come with.

Chase is still looking so much like his daddy. Brown eyes and we did have to get him a hair cut. His shag in the back was getting long so he is all cleaned up now. Austin, everyone says, looks like mommy. Blue eyes and dark hair. The boys are extremely happy and best of all, most amused with each other. They chase and taunt and seem to really love each other. Bath time is by far the most fun event in our house everyday. Austin dips his nose and mouth into the water and then erupts in the best belly laugh you've ever heard. And monkey see, monkey do, Chase tries to copy but with a little less finesse. He just dunks his whole head and we'll just say is getting his fair share of water intake everyday. Dehydration is not a concern with him.

The boys love music and dance whenever a tune is played. We do lots of singing, reading and chasing each other around. All in all, this is a pretty decent age and we couldn't be happier. Not to say they aren't a lot of work, but it comes with the territory, right?

Here is the "wee Rhi" as we call my sister's daughter (almost 8 months old). This is how Dan gets his "girl" fix. So cute!

Austin and Chase with their friend Hannah. She's a good sport for putting up with the two of them on play dates.

Halloween and so much more!

2008-11-02T18:53:00.036-05:00

The boys didn't quite make it to "trick or treat" but we did manage a photo shoot in our front yard. Austin is dressed as Winnie the Pooh as a Bumblebee and Chase is a turtle. Chase was fascinated with Austin's antenae.
Chase wore his Turtle hat most of the day so when picture time came, he was ready to pose.

Austin tickling his friend Elmo and Chase still in his Turtle hat :)

Saying goodbye to Daddy in the morning...don't go!

Dressed as pumpkins, the boys got new "ride-on" toys from Grammy and Grandpa. Maybe they'll be mechanics or do demolition derbies when they're older?

Lunch with friend Drew included a side trip to the L.L. Bean outlet. Three little pumpkins!

Ok, so Chase has very little hair, and we like him to be used to hats...besides, it's a good cushion when he stumbles.

The car is made for one, but there's always room for brother.

The pink binkie incident...cousin Rhiannon wasn't paying attention and the boys stole her pink binkie. It wasn't even the type they use, but boy was it popular with them!

What this picture doesn't show is the yelp Rhiannon let out when she realized she was outnumbered...eventually she'll realize Austin and Chase are her protectors :)

Ahhhhh, the skunk fiasco. This is the friend we had living in our garage for a few days. Luckily, it never sprayed but instead seemed quite content. Baiting it out with garbage eventually did the trick. There is never a dull moment.

After a fun fun filled afternoon of play, Austin took a nap right on our friend's floor with their daughter Olivia. He was very tired!

Chase & Olivia.

A trip to the apple and pumpkin farm with our friends the Lang's from Buffalo. Pictured here is Susan, David and Lang (as he's affectionately known.)

New Pictures of "The Boys" & Friends

2008-10-01T09:19:00.013-04:00

(left) Austin and Tiggah

(below) Chase beating on Austin

Hanging with Auntie Caroline and Hannah on our first college football Saturday with the Taitelbaum's.

A weekend away with cousin Rhiannon, Kona and Auntie Kerry.

Summer 2008

2008-08-31T09:12:00.033-04:00

Finally, a summer update!

We’re happy to report that everyone in the Couture household is having a great summer. We’ve made several successful trips to Cape Cod to visit Grammy, Grandpa, Auntie Kerry, Uncle Dave and our new niece Rhiannon. We also visited Nana, Pop, Auntie Michele, Uncle Bill and cousin Sierra in New Jersey. The boys did great on each trip but the car rides can’t end fast enough. They behave but c’mon, even adults don’t like to sit still for that long! Other adventures have included a petting zoo, blueberry picking and the beach.

Because so many of our friends have become parents or added another child to their family this summer, we've also had some fun play dates. Let's just say our circle of friends has made a hefty contribution to the class of 2026. So far, the boys have played with Hannah, Nate, Conner, Drew and Sammy. There's only one missing from the bunch and that's Hallie who lives in D.C. Eventually they will meet as well.

Since our last post, so much has happened including the further definition of Austin and Chase’s individuality. So, to honor that exciting development, I will update all of you on each child separately (in alphabetical order of course!).

Austin is a love. He is laid back, extremely happy and very sweet. His attention to detail is overwhelming and he has a fantastic attention span for such a young baby. He loves to play with Chase but can be very content entertaining himself as well. Austin enjoyed solids from the moment they were introduced in late June. He got the hang of the spoon very quickly and has loved everything from peas to sweet potato to banana. After months of some serious drooling, two teeth appeared on July 16. And with that addition, along came some fierce diaper rash. Between the new food, teeth, the heat and some long car rides, it took a while to get those buns back to normal. But through it all, Austin never complained. He also didn’t seem to mind the ear infection our pediatrician found at his 9-mos. well check. He certainly is a tough little guy. Austin’s disposition and happiness is never more evident than when his Daddy comes home from work at night. It’s a sight to see when he realizes that his favorite toy has returned home for yet another evening of play. In addition to Daddy, Austin loves his baseball game and chasing plastic stacking cups on the kitchen floor.

Chase…where do I begin? What a character! His new nickname is “brut” since he’s like a bull in a china shop with his toys and his brother Austin. Watch out if you’re in his way, because he’ll plow right through to whatever he has his eyes on. He’d rather stand than crawl and I fear he’ll be our bumps and bruises baby given his impulsivity. Chase is very engaged and observant but he does get bored a bit easier than Austin does. A talkative little guy, he takes a little while to settle down to sleep sometimes, but once he does, he’s out cold. In addition to his bottom teeth that he got on July 6, Chase also has a top tooth that arrived without much discomfort besides more diaper rash. Chase is hard to miss with the biggest eyes I’ve ever seen. His baldness is slowly being replaced with light brown fuzz (and he finally has more hair than someone...Uncle Hough!)and those cheeks have finally given way to a chin and neck that I never thought we’d see. Now, Austin giggles and gets very silly, but Chase takes the cake with belly laughing at his Daddy. He thinks everything Dan does is hysterical. Our friends call it “Dan TV” and it really is a fitting description of the animated display he puts on for the kids. Chase’s laugh is music to our ears and his energy is enough to light up a room. His favorite toy is his piano and the two fuzzy gray things that live with us. Chase them through the kitchen is a sight to see!

So, to sum up other milestones, the boys had their 9 month (6 month corrected) well check on August 14. They are both 17 lbs., 4 oz. and almost 28” long. Austin is a little bit taller, which may make him look leaner (a.k.a. making Chase look chubbier) but I think they are simply built differently. Such different babies! But, they both officially crawled on Sunday, August 17 and are sitting up on their own. We’ve added a second solid feed (well, it’s really pureed) throughout the day and we still haven’t found anything the boys WON’T eat. Unbelievable! We’re at 32 oz. of formula a day (nursing officially ended a month ago) and looking for that to slowly decrease over the next few months. We’ll start cheerios and some other finger foods at 7 months and protein at 8 months.

For those of you who we haven’t caught up with yet this summer, we hope it was a good one for you. We’re very much looking forward to more adventures in the fall, which will definitely include a visit to apple orchard and pumpkin patch. Best to you and yours and enjoy the pictures below!

Look, it's our great-grandmother! Can you believe she has her own set of twins and triplets, plus three other children??? Unbelievable!

Grammy helping Austin shade his delicate baby blues. And Chase showing off his new found mobility (Amy, take note that the shirts still fit - crazy, huh?)

Grampy (always with a spit rag handy) and Austin taking in the view of the Vineyard.

This is Kerry and Alex's son Drew.

This is Julie and Brian's new son Conner. Big sister Libby is peeking out of her fort.

The boys with their new friends Conner and Drew.

(left to right) Austin, Chase and Nate (Lys and Jon's little boy).
The boys and their girlfriend Hannah (Caroline and Scott's little girl). Chase cracking up in Daddy's new backpack.
Austin with his Great Aunt Lori and Great Uncle Frank (who used to be known affectionatley as Unc and will now be known simply as Great).

For once, Austin beating up Chase...wierd thing is that Chase thought it was hysterical! Me and my boys :)

Austin, Chase and their friend Sammy.

"Do you think Dad's using the right fertilizer?"

Another wrestling session.

Nana, Pop and the boys at the clydesdale horse stables.

Austin, Chase and their new cousin Rhiannon.

She's going to be a tall one! Definitely taking after her Daddy.

Our babies are growing up so fast!

2008-07-08T15:39:00.016-04:00

You hear it your whole life, but I never imagined they'd get so big, so fast. We feel like infancy is nearly over. The boys are cutting teeth, crawling backwards and nearly sitting up on their own. We started solids a week ago and they are doing great. So much all at once, it's unbelievable. They are now five months corrected and on the 12th, will be eight months old. Chase is about 17 lbs. while Austin is about 16.5 lbs. Here are some of their latest adventures - enjoy!

Down the Cape in our sun cabana.

Ready for the beach!

Summer is here!

2008-06-10T09:11:00.011-04:00

Well, as any of you living in the northeast know, summer has arrived with a fury! It's hot out and thank goodness we have air conditioning. Don't get me wrong - we love the heat, but again, we're limited to the time we can spend outside with the boys so they do not overheat, etc. But, I did sneak them out for a quick walk early yesterday morning and then we took a dip in our kiddie pool - all 2" deep of water! Yes, I too dip my whole self in. If anyone is watching, we must look hilarious. Me in my bathing suit that absolutely does not fit, and the boys - well they're in the buff. We get in there and it's just a fit of laughing and splashing. Chase is a maniac in there. He kicks constantly and Austin is just mesmerized by the whole experience. Without us doing anything, when we brought the boys in the pool for the first time on Sunday, both of them just let out this wonderful belly laugh. They just really got a kick out of the whole experience. But what a great age this is! Of course, I feel like I really don't know their age...are they 4 months or 7? That is the question. Ahhhh, life is too short to worry over these details. So, since I'm always in the pool with the boys, there are no pictures yet of their wet adventures, but I'll have Dan take some soon.

The only other update I have (hopefully our streak won't be jinxed by me writing it here) but we're heading into night 10 of sleeping through the night. Usually we get about 10 hours, but last night we got 12! I think we've hit that magic 15 lbs. and they no longer need a mid-night feed. Of course, now they'll probably start cutting teeth...it's alway something!

Stay cool and enjoy this wonderful weather we're having!

Six Months Old!

2008-05-12T16:31:00.015-04:00

The boys are six months old today! And get this, Chase has officially caught up to Austin and they are exactly the same size. I know, big shock, given the size of his cheeks and his many chins... For the longest time Chase was about a pound smaller but now, both boys are 14 pounds and 25.5 inches long. While modern medicine gives Austin and Chase two full years to catch up to term babies their same age (that is other babies born in mid-November 2007) the boys are nearly there. It's amazing and we are so proud. It's also nice to not be doing math everytime we try to figure out what clothes should fit, etc. It's so much easier this way! So, as someone recently said, "they like their groceries." Of course, we still correct their age, because while they are six months old, they are acting somewhere in between three and four months, with regard to development, etc. For example, we aren't starting rice cereal or any other solids until at least the end of June.

The boys are really starting to develop personalities. Austin is our cuddler and he suckers mommy into naps whenever he can. He is laid back and really quite content. He talks a lot and is overall happy. Chase is feisty as always. He has found his thumb and seems to prefer that to the pacifier at times. He has totally discovered his brother and when we put them in front of each other, he lights up the room with a huge smile while reaching for Austin. It really is the cutest thing. Chase is our worrier. He just looks so concerned sometimes but luckily he smiles and laughs a lot too - a ball of emotion is the best way to describe him.

The boys were recently part of a "Then & Now" poster campaign (see their poster below) and charity walk sponsored by the March of Dimes. We're in the process of finding ways to become more involved with the March of Dimes in addition to the Dartmouth Hitchcock ICN Parents Council. If we can't prevent some of the hardships we've gone through for others, our goal is to help others cope with premature birth, loss and overall complicated pregnancies. While our journey has felt grueling at times, we would do the past six months again in a heart beat if it gave us the honor of being parents to these amazing little boys. Journey on!

New Pictures

2008-05-05T09:02:00.009-04:00

Auntie Kerry and her baby bump! Feeling great, looking amazingly fit and due in July, we got to visit with my sister Kerry yesterday and the boys got to hang out with their cousin...well kind of. This counts, doesn't it?

New Pictures!

2008-04-26T17:43:00.016-04:00

Spring Is Finally Here...We Hope

2008-04-14T16:09:00.011-04:00

It's official. Our mounds of snow are disappearing, the birds are chirping and people are outdoors again - it's spring! We're getting out nearly everyday and it feels so good! Our weekly appointments with the visiting nurse are done so we won't have new weights until this Friday. Until then, here are some smiles (and serious faces too) to brighten your day!

Compare this!

2008-04-07T16:01:00.011-04:00

Do these even look like the same babies? My goodness, look how much they've grown! Sorry for slowing down on posts. We've been busy trying to get out for walks and to visit some friends who have recently had new babies. It's been fun seeing all these new little people who we hope our boys will grow up with. The boys didn't get weighed last week but we're expecting to be nearly 13 and 12 lbs. by the weigh-in this Friday. We've officially segwayed into 3-6 mos. clothes and are practically out of #2 diapers already. The boys have done two nights in a row of sleeping for 8 hours! It would great if they continued but I suspect they'll tease us a few more times before settling into that routine.

So, let's talk about age...we've learned we are supposed to go by their corrected age (using Feb. 4 as their faux birthday) for everything but vaccines. So, instead of being 5 months old on April 12, they were two months old on April 4. If you think it's confusing, you're right. Using the corrected age makes all of the developmental milestones more attainable. Once the boys are two years old, we can simply use November 12 as their birthday. They should be caught up by then.

The boys are smiling socially and when they do, it lights up the room! Of course, I can't keep the camera on them all the time, but I've been able to snag a few shots of these wonderful smiles. They are both really starting to grab at things and get this, we think Austin might be teething. I got teeth at four months, so it's perfectly reasonable that he could as well. In the meantime, his mouth seems to be a little sore, he chews on everything and drools a lot. I dred teething, like I dred turning two and potty training! Maybe we'll get a nanny by then :)

Ok, once I figure out what to make for dinner, we need to go on our walk. In the meantime, here are a few more pictures from the past couple of weeks! Enjoy!

Happy Easter

2008-03-24T21:03:00.012-04:00

Ok, so we didn't get the boys picture taken with the Easter bunny...but we did get a visit from Nana & Poppa Cooch, cousin Sierra, Aunt Michele and Uncle Bill. Easter Sunday, we ventured out on our first trip to Grammy and Grandpa Dufromont's house and all in all, the entire weekend was a great success. The boys stayed on their schedule and we actually felt a sense of normalcy for the first time since the boys were born. Here are a few pictures from the week and weekend. We're seeing a resemblance between Austin and Sierra, but Chase is still his Daddy's clone! Enjoy!

New Pictures!

2008-03-17T11:19:00.012-04:00

New Pics of the Boys!

2008-03-10T21:20:00.010-04:00

Here's Austin wearing probably the cutest hat we've ever seen him in! Thank you Aunt Susy!

Chase was too sleepy for hat wearing...funny, with his baldness, he's the one who should be wearing the hat!

Now that we're getting so many visitors, everyone wants perspective on how far the boys have come. So, here are the diapers they started with on day one (about 3.5" high) and next to it, is a #1 diaper, which they've just grown out of. I have other items, such as hats and outfits, that I'll photograph and post. It's just amazing to think each baby started out less then three pounds.

Ok, so we don't leave him unattended, but how cute does Austin look in the bumbo seat? What a big boy!

We kept putting the boys together and I think Chase had enough. He's saying, "This is my boppy. Don't even think of putting that big brother of mine in here with me because I'm big too, and I'm using all of it!"

There are definitely better ways to do tummy time, but this is just so much cuter! Even though Austin has so much more hair than Chase...we're starting to think Austin's is falling out too. Maybe one of them will be bald like their mommy was...?

Wow - We're Growing!

2008-03-03T23:06:00.006-05:00

These boys are getting heavy! The last weigh-in (2.29.08) had Austin at 9 lbs. 3 oz. and Chase starting to catch up at 8 lbs. 7 oz. The newborn clothes are quickly disappearing from their drawers and the three month ones are coming in. We cannot believe how fast time is passing us by. But not to worry, we are trying to capture as many moments to share with everyone as possible. Here are a few shots from the past week. The Alcatraz bibs are from Aunts Amy and Stacy who live in San Jose. I'll try to get better at dressing/photgraphing the boys in outfits people give us so you can see them in use before they're outgrown. Goodnight...

Update and New Pics

2008-02-22T18:55:00.008-05:00

The boys are doing great this week. We're on a steady 3-4 hour schedule and there have even been a few nights where they've slept 5+ hours. The boys we evaluated for early-intervention development services on Wednesday and they passed with flying colors. They are 3 months old and were rated as 2-4 months in every category. All of their actions are appropriate, especially since they are only 3+ weeks corrected. With all of that being said, they did not qualify for any services. The visiting nurse had to cancel today due to weather but we're confident the boys have continued to grow. My guess is that Austin is 8 1/2+ lbs. and Chase is 7 1/2+ lbs. Here are few pictures from the week!

Update & New Pictures

2008-02-14T21:24:00.010-05:00

Hi everyone. I'm so sorry I didn't write earlier. Some of you have been concerned about all their appointments last week and I didn't mean to keep you in the dark. The "snip, snip" on Monday was a great success. The Couture boys will now look like all their buddies in the locker room. The eye exams on Wednesday were also a success. The boys' eyes were labeled for the first time as "mature." This means we don't have to go back for another six months. Phew!

The boys are gaining a little more than an ounce a day at this point. Austin is nearly 8 lbs. and Chase nearly 7 lbs. With nine feedings a piece everyday, my arms are sore from holding them. We've got them sleeping four hours at a time at night and two to three during the day. If it's possible, we actually think they keep getting cuter! Ahhh, the bias of a parent is wonderful.

Go Pats!

2008-02-03T17:29:00.000-05:00

It's Super Bowl Sunday and the boys (Chase - left, Austin - right) are resting up for the game. We're enjoying a quiet Sunday together in preparation for a week of excitement. Tomorrow is the boys official due date and to celebrate...drum roll...they're getting circumcized! Now what could be more exciting than that? I'm hoping I can get updated weights and lenghths tomorrow so we know exactly what they were on their original due date. As of this past Friday, Austin was 6 lbs. 12 oz. and Chase was 5 lbs. 12 oz.

The circumcision is tomorrow in Nashua and on Wednesday, we head back out to Lebanon for a repeat eye exam. Let's hope this one goes smoothly and that everyone keeps breathing. For those of you who hadn't heard, the last eye exam landed Austin back in the NICU for a night of observation because he had an apnea during the exam. Dan and I had to stay in the Birthing Pavilion with Chase. Needless to say, I'll never go to Lebanon again without a change of clothes in the car! It's really quite common for babies this age to experience apnea during the eye exam because it puts pressure on their vagus nerve (which makes you pass out). A metal speculum is used to hold their eyes open while the doctor takes several minutes to look inside each eye. The boys scream bloody murder the whole time and they come home with extremely bloodshot eyes. But, they're several weeks older now and we're hoping the fourth time is a charm. All we need the doctor to say is that their eyes are "mature" and then they're done. The only good part of Wednesday is that we get to stop by the NICU to visit some of our friends.

So, we're all ready to cheer the Pats to victory. I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their weekend. I'll write more later this week with an update on eyes.

2008-01-28T09:28:00.000-05:00

We celebrated Dan's 32nd birthday on Friday and the boys enjoyed the party. Well, Austin did. It was just the four of us, but that has left some much appreciated extra cake and ice cream for mom and dad!

Both boys are getting big. As of Wednesday, Jan. 23, Austin was 6 lbs. 4 oz. and Chase was 5 lbs. 3.5 oz. Austin is gaining an above average amount every week at this point and Chase is right on target. Most of the preemie clothes are getting packed up at this point, with only a few outfits that still fit. I'm hoping they stay in the "newborn" clothes for a little while so they get some use out of all their cute outfits.

I've decided that is just isn't natural to wake up in the middle of the night and feed two babies. But as awful as it feels, I really can't complain because most of the time, it's every three hours. That at least gives us about two hours of sleep at a time.

As the boys have grown, so have their voices. Each has a very distinct cry. Austin's is mature and rather controlled, while Chase's cry is by far more demanding. Their cries seem to be reflective of their personalities, as Austin is a bit more laid back and patient. If Chase wants something or if he is annoyed, he's going to let you know.

VISITATION UPDATE: We will be accepting HEALTHY visitors starting in February. If you want to come meet the boys, we ask you to give us a call or send an email and together, we should be able to find a time and date that works. Weekends are best, but if you are local, an evening could work as well. You should expect to stay for about an hour and wash your hands often. If we learned anything from our stay in the NICU, it's that hand washing is the single most effective weapon against spreading germs. So help us all stay healthy and wash your hands! If you have children, they can come along, but please prepare them for a look but don't touch approach. We'll be a lot less neurotic about this once winter has passed and everyone is less germy.

Well, that's it for now. Off to another feeding session!

New Pics of Us!

2008-01-14T18:57:00.001-05:00

New Pic of Austin

2008-01-14T18:54:00.001-05:00

New Pics of Chase

2008-01-14T18:36:00.000-05:00

A Moment Worth Waiting For

2008-01-04T15:27:00.000-05:00

We've waited 53 days to take this picture and it felt just as good as we anticipated it would. One more night in Newport and tomorrow, we'll drive to Merrimack! Finally, we're full time parents and feel like our family is complete. Let the sleepless nights begin!

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T16:58:00.000-05:00

We have had the most incredible new year surprise - Austin came home today! It wasn't easy leaving our little Chase behind but we know he's in good hands and will probably be joining us later this week when he completes his A&B countdown. Until then, we'll continue living out here by the hospital to spend the days there with Chase. A second crib will be in Chase's bed space for Austin to use while we're visiting. Our departure from the ICN today was exciting, but we are saving the picture taking until we can walk out of there with two full car seats in hand. Gotta run - there's a baby calling my name :)

Love, Rebecca & Dan

We've Come So Far

2007-12-30T21:26:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone. I'm sorry we haven't posted in two weeks, but boy, have we been busy! The holidays came and went without much of our routine changing. We did get to spend some time with family but most of all, we hung out with our boys. Starting on Dec. 15, we were a bit distracted by what the doctors thought was meningitis in Chase, but it turned out to be a false alarm after eight days of a 21-day treatment. This was Chase's third set back with "infection" but he is extremely strong and we couldn't be prouder on his ability to prove he's not going to let these set backs keep him from moving forward. I suppose his tenacity is the first hint of the competition we'll witness between he and his brother for years to come. In the meantime, Austin has continued to eat and grow.

Ok, enough excuses, here is the fun stuff (besides new photos) that I know you're all wondering about...

Today, Austin weighs 5 lbs. 1 oz. and Chase weighs 4 lbs. 9 oz. To us, they are huge! Both are starting to make lots of wonderful baby noises and they even cry. The boys are in open cribs and for the last few days, we've started ad-lib feeding. This means, we've taken the gavage tubes out and they are eating from mom exclusively. Needless to say, I'm starting to finally feel like this mother role is real and I couldn't be happier to be spending such quality time with both babies. To help the boys adjust to this feeding process, Dan and I are sleeping at the hospital tonight and tomorrow night. We'll get a call whenever the boys are hungry and then I go feed them. Austin has already finished his apnea/bradycardia countdown and Chase is in the midst of his. The car seats are installed and once the boys have breastfeeding perfected, we'll introduce a bottle and they say we could be home within a week to ten days. Of course, we'll believe it when we see it, but finally, we are starting to feel like real parents and that our stay in the NICU could be over soon.

Here are some pictures from the past two weeks. The nurses had a photo shoot with the boys on Christmas and I'll post those pictures separately. Enjoy and as always, thank you, everyone, for your continued support, warm gestures, kind messages, care packages and love. We are extremely blessed to have all of you in our lives and to share this amazing experience with.

Austin (left) - mom made me wear this silly hat!
Chase (right) - I'm so concerned!

Christmas '07 in the Intensive Care Nursery

2007-12-25T09:25:00.000-05:00

Checkout our Christmas photo shoot! A special thank you to Amy M. and the rest of the nurses on that night for capturing such great images of our boys while mom and dad were home resting.

Mom and Dad's Friday night...how things change!

2007-12-14T23:11:00.000-05:00

After hanging out for a while tonight, we did tubs and then tucked everyone in for a good night sleep. We couldn't be happier to see what our Friday nights will be like from now on!

Happy One Month Birthday!

2007-12-12T21:15:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday Chase!

Happy Birthday Austin!

Hanging With Mom & Dad

2007-12-08T09:15:00.000-05:00

So we showed up today with hopes of getting some pictures of Austin with his eyes open. Not only did we achieve our goal, but to our surprise, the nurses had put clothes on him! Dan and I both spent the day holding our boys and it couldn't have been nicer. Chase "desatted" (this means the oxygen saturation level in his blood reduced briefly, which is extremely common during this stage in life) a few times on Dad, giving him a heart attack, but that's par for the course and he recovered fine. Oh, and Dad is ok too...

Chase wasn't too photogenic today, but I'm sure this is just the start of us not being able to control these two!

Here's Dad hanging out with Chase. The boys have been moved into the older style isolettes that don't have humidity settings or portholes for us to get our hands in there. We're hoping for open cribs soon.

Austin is sleeping peacefully - with clothes on! Everyone must think we're strange to think that's a big deal, but these kids have been au naturale since birth.

Austin, still sleeping, but heading for some snuggle time with mom. He'll eat while being held. But not before we hold him up and admire this new look! Hopefully Austin won't be embarrassed that we all think his backside is even cute!

Ok, and here he is with those eyes wide open!

Finally, a Kodak moment Austin didn't sleep through!

Thursday, December 6

2007-12-06T11:24:00.000-05:00

While Austin and Chase look alike with hats on, it's easiest to tell them apart by their hair.

Austin (asleep) has a full head of dark hair and his complexion is darker too. Chase (awake) has only a thin coating of light brown hair and his complexion is light.

These pictures are a little dim because they're taken while the boys are in isolettes. Until they can maintain their body temperature on their own, this is where they will live. The doctors say they could be in open cribs within the week. While at the intensive care nursey, the boys will always be monitored for heart rates, oxygen saturation levels, blood pressure and respitory rates so co-sleeping is not an option. There are just to many wires to get tangled. But I'm holding out for an opportunity to put the boys together for a special holiday picture...so stand by for that!

Chase has a central line right now because he is still working back up to full feeds. The line allows him to receive nutrients via TPN, allowing him to thrive as well as his brother. What you see sticking out of his blanket are called lumens and it's where the TPN is given. One lumen is used right now while the other just gets flushed every eight hours. Once he's on full feeds, the central line can be removed. As of today, Austin weighs 3 lbs. 5 oz. and Chase weighs 3 lbs. 2 oz.

The tubes in their mouths allow them to eat. Sometimes these are put in their noses but it can affect their breathing rates. The tubes are not painful at all. The boys both like to suck on pacifiers while they eat which shows their stomach and brain are communicating effectively by associating a full or hungry belly with sucking. All good signs they will eat normally soon!

Both boys are vigorous, according to the staff. They say this is a great sign but that we're going to have our hands full when they come home. I say, bring it on! We can't wait until that first sleepless night, as long as we have both boys at home with us safe and sound.

We're growing!

2007-12-05T08:59:00.000-05:00

These boys are growing and we couldn't be prouder! Both are over three pounds now and 16 inches long. Austin is up to full feeds and while Chase was eating at full feeds early on, he needed some time to rest his gut. His first meal in eight days was last night and so far so good. Not to worry, during that time, Chase was still getting all the nutrients his body needed and it was apparently working since he gained weight and grew. Mom and Dad are getting to hold the boys daily now and the babies love what's called Kangaroo Care - when the baby is put right in your shirt allowing for skin to skin contact. It's the closest they can get the baby to a womb-like experience and they love it.

We took our first day off from the hospital on Monday and it snowed all day long. Accumulation led to about 12 inches so it was a good day to be home. The cats were certainly happy to see us. But, now we're back and it really does feel better to be here with the boys everyday. They are so precious and that makes it very hard to stay away. This is especially hard for Dad, who went back to work last week. His commute really hasn't changed, but it makes for a long day when he works and then heads to the hospital every evening.

We wanted to send a special thank you out to those who've been making us food or putting care packages together. We're overwhelmed by people's generosity and our bellies thank you. It makes these late nights a lot easier when you can just come home and pop something in the microwave or head out to the hospital with a bag full of snacks.

So, cheers to another good day and we'll try to get some new pictures taken soon for all of you to see.

Can you tell us apart? Austin is in green and Chase is in blue.

2007-12-05T08:50:00.000-05:00

New Pictures of Chase

2007-11-26T22:05:00.001-05:00

New Pictures of Austin

2007-11-26T21:56:00.000-05:00

Update

2007-11-25T10:18:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone. For those of you who haven't heard already, our son Brady suffered a terrible setback on Thursday, November 15. An emergency transfer was made through the night to the Dartmouth Hitchcock Intensive Care Nursery in Lebanon, NH and while he was declared stabilized by the weekend, he'd suffered severe, irreversible brain damage. We had an elective transfer approved on Saturday for Austin and Chase and by that afternoon we had our family of five together in one facility. Brady fought extremely hard but unfortunately passed away on Sunday, November 18 at 6:31 pm. Before he passed, we were able to have all of the boys baptized together and we are extremely happy to have that memory forever in our minds. Dan and I wake up each day knowing the best thing we can do right now is be strong for Austin and Chase. We are extremely fortunate to have the two of them in our lives and while we always said we'd never spoil or smother our children, these boys will not know what hit them once we get them home! Both are back to birth weight, off breathing apparatus and tolerating full feeds. Thank you for all of your support and we'll continue to keep you posted on the progress Austin and Chase are making.

Love, Rebecca and Dan

Austin Daniel Couture

2007-11-15T13:54:00.001-05:00

Brady Francis Couture

2007-11-15T13:45:00.001-05:00

Chase Devlin Couture

2007-11-15T12:57:00.001-05:00

Our boys have arrived!

2007-11-15T12:04:00.001-05:00

The big day was Monday, November 12, 2007 at 4:02/4:03/4:04 pm and before we could even digest the fact we were about to become parents, they were here!

Austin Daniel Couture (2 lbs. 12 oz./15.25 in.)

Brady Francis Couture (2 lbs. 12 oz./15.25 in.)

Chase Devlin Couture (2 lbs. 14 oz./15 in.)

Labor began at 1:30 pm. They tried to stop the contractions (which I still couldn't feel) and by 3 pm decided a C-Section was necessary.

The boys are absolutely precious and while they have a challenge-packed journey ahead of them, we're confident they will live up to the "Couture" reputation to be strong and healthy boys. They have dark wavy hair, which we think comes from my grandfather "Buppa" (Francis Devlin) and the verdict is still out on which two are identical.

Some of the pictures taken early on, as in minutes after they were born, are hard to identify. So enjoy the followng and then we'll add a post for each child.

Week 27

2007-11-10T17:29:00.000-05:00

Our doctor's appointment on Thursday, Nov. 27 (day 5 of week 27) was as good as we could have hoped for. My preterm labor continues so I'm still on bedrest. The doctor says I'm progressing like an "average" triplet pregnancy, which sounds good to us! The good news is that for now, I can at least stay home and out of the hospital.

The boys are growing and they've all maintained their original growth curves.

Austin - 2 lbs., 6 oz.

Brady - 2 lbs., 4 oz.

Chase - 2 lbs., 8 oz.

We were able to see Chase's face during the ultrasound and he has chubby cheeks or as we call them "Couture Cheeks!" His brothers weren't facing forward so there wasn't much to see besides the back of their heads and spines.

I've officially graduated to using a chair in the shower. Thanks to a family friend who loaned it to us, I'm able to languish in the shower now and not feel guilty for being on my feet. So thank you, Mrs. Collins, for the seat!

The good news is, despite my lack of activity, Dan seems to be safe from gaining sympathy weight! We took this at the beginning of Week 27.

Week 28 is starting out well. I feel a little more tired and it's certainly getting harder to lug this belly around, but overall, I can't really complain. As a friend of mine put it recently, the last week of pregnancy is always tough and from now on, every one of my weeks will be like that. But, we will persevere and make it as long as we can!

So, who says the nursery isn't getting any use yet? One of our cats, Koka, has found the perfect napping spot - the changing table! It really is a cat's dream and even has a view! Not to worry, we're rewashing the changing pad cover but really, it's better than her sleeping in one of the cribs!

Weeks 25 - 26

2007-10-23T19:07:00.000-04:00

I can't believe we're into the third trimester already. It's been a wild ride so far, but our goal of 32 weeks is within sight and we couldn't be happier. For now, I'm just hanging out in bed, on the couch and Dan has been wonderful at keeping my water bottle full. He's also taken on 100% of the household chores. He gets a break on making dinner a few nights a week thanks to friends and family who drop off food.

Our next doctor's appointment is on November 8 and at that point we'll be at the end of 27 weeks!

This is 1/3 of our nursery. The room isn't spacious, but it does have room for all three cribs...and a pathway for us to get in an out!

Second Trimester, Weeks 13-24

2007-10-21T17:40:00.000-04:00

Week 13 (red shirt)

The second trimester went much like the first. I felt great and had plenty of energy. We made the best of the Massachusetts tax-free weekend and bought all three cribs and the changing table week 13.

I had an OB appointment week 14 and the doctor said I was measuring 22 weeks and then laughed. I thought it was funny then too. Now I long to be that size! We also went to a wedding at the end of week 14 for our friends Amy and Stacy. It was a beautiful event and gave us the chance to see some friends and family who we hadn't seem in a while. Amy is my oldest friend and after her wedding she moved to San Jose, so going to her wedding and seeing her happy moment in person was a very special experience. The next time she's in town, the boys could be almost six months old!

Week 15, was the week of the minivan...after many test drives and several nights eating dinner after 9 pm, we settled on the Dodge Grand Caravan. It's a gray/blue color and all the seating "stows." It drives really well and is super comfortable. "Cool" has already become a secondary factor - what is happening to us? Who am I kidding, we drove Subaru's before and one could argue they aren't cool either. Ok, so we haven't been cool for years!

Week 16 (dress was a squeeze!), we went to New Jersey - in our minivan - for our niece Sierra's baptism. That same weekend, we also met Jeff and Joanne, parents of BBB triplets. We grilled them for advice and have actually kept in touch! They were kind enough to sell us their infant stroller and car seats. I think for the first time, reality set in when we drove home with three car seats in the car that weekend!

Week 17 (black & white dress)

Week 18, we went on what we think will probably be the last vacation we'll take in a few years. We went to the Cape and really just relaxed, spent time with family and enjoyed the freedom to do whatever we wanted. The week ended with a very exciting ultra sound

discovery...three boys! We couldn't believe it and immediately realized how easy it would be to have all three babies be the same gender. This narrowed the field for names too. Having a grandaughter on the Couture side and none on my side, all the grandparents were elated to hear they were all boys. All Dan keeps thinking is, finally, someone to help me in the yard!

During weeks 19 and 20 I started to get really big. I started to work from home week 20 and knowing I was getting more and more uncomfortable, we went to visit my cousin Lynne who has a 4 y/o boy and BG 2 y/o twins. She packed our minivan with more hand-me-downs than we could have ever imagined. And then she fed us until we thought we were going to burst. And still...we managed to hit Kimball's on the way home. There's always room for ice cream!

The 21 week ultrasound gave us the best pictures. All the boys were moving - a lot - and we couldn't believe how much they really looked like babies. I know that sounds wierd, but sometimes you have to use your imagination a bit with ultrasounds. We ended the week with a visit to see our friends Caroline and Scott. She is a week ahead of me and pregnant with a singleton. Putting the two of us next to each other was a hoot!

The rest of the trimester was spent on partial bed rest. So, I tried to start closing out projects at work and become one with our recliner. By the time week 24 began, I was on complete bedrest and my life of leisure began...

First Trimester

2007-07-29T16:30:00.000-04:00

On May 29, 2007, our dreams came true when we found out we were pregnant. For most people, this is a life changing moment...but that didn't come until June 15, when the ultrasound technician found not one, not two, but three strong heartbeats!

We got to see the babies again on June 27 for an 8 week ultrasound. Babies A, B and C were thriving!

The first trimester ended without much drama. No morning sickness, but the maternity clothes were needed already by week 8! That's when we knew it was going to be a real interesting ride!

We Finally Have A Blog!

2007-06-11T15:29:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the Couture Trio blog. We started this site thinking it might be easier to keep everyone up to date on the progress of our triplet pregnancy. And what will be even more fun, is keeping you updated on the lives of our sons once they are born. Being pregnant with triplets has surely been an experience worth sharing and we couldn't be more thankful to have all of you in our lives to share it with. (photo: Cape Cod, 18 weeks)