We wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We have so much to be thankful for.  I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed everyones comments in the Guest book.  I'll be able to print the comments out and put in the boys baby books.  It has meant so much to Guy and I that we have such wonderful family and friends out there cheering these 3 boys on.   It's such a warm and happy feeling as we approach the boys first Christmas.  We have the tree up and the boys just love to touch the branches and look at the lights.  

The boys are now 9 months old (6 months adjusted).  

We are enjoying this special time with them and everyday they fill our lives with smiles and laughter... and the occassional scream.  We had our pediatrician checkup and they got good school reports

It's not fair to evaluate the boys as a 9month old but even doing so (see percentiles below) they are doing actually well. They are small for 9months but Dylan is now making ground and doing well on the growth chart. Hunter and Matthew are just at the lowest part of the growth curve but it's just amazing that they are catching up with their actual age group.  They have come a long long way from the 2 pounders they were.

Dylan

Height: 26 1/8 inches (10-25%tile)

Head: 44 1/8 cm (10-25%tile)

Weight: 14 lb 4 oz (lower 3%tile)

Hunter

Height: 26 inches (3%tile)

Head: 42 (3%tile)

Weight: 13 lb, 13 oz (3%tile)

Matthew

Height: 25 5/8 inches (3%tile)

Head: 43cm (5%tile)

Weight: 12 lb 1 oz (3%tile)

I wish we didn't have to be so careful about getting these boys sick. They are just so cute and I know there are so many people that would love to play with them.  Just to put it in perspective, Matthew is doing very very well. He is pretty much doing fine without any oxygen support... but this week he's been struggling a little.  He's still so skinny so we are trying to really get him to eat more and it requires him to need a little oxygen when he sleeps.  So, he's doing well but his lungs just don't have a lot of reserve.  He just needs to grow now and in a few months his lungs will be so much stronger.  He had his Cardiology follow up a few weeks ago. His heart looks perfectly normal!  They even said his lungs were showing improvements (which we knew because he is able to go during the day without oxygen) But it was great to get the tests done and Dr. Ing gave his stamp of approval.  

Dylan is still the social butterfly. he would rather talk than eat.  He just loves to be with his brothers.  You can sit Hunter on top of him and he thinks it's the best... even if he is being squashed.  Dylan is eating cereal and some veggies now.  All three are eating cereal.  Dylan also just loves to laugh.  You can tell a joke and it is as if he understands and he busts out laughing.  It's adorable.  I keep saying to him, like a mobster... "Forget-about-it"  Thanks to my friend Elana who told me her son came home from playschool saying that.  I was telling Guy the story and Dylan just burst out laughing.  Dylan is also the loudest.  He's a happy baby but when he screams... he really screams.  Dylan will have brown eyes (like me) and it looks like he will have brown hair. Dylan is rolling over and so very close to sitting up.  He would much rather sit up than lie down 

Hunter can only be described as "The wild man"  He is a character.  He adores his Dad and has this mischievous grin.  He eats the most of the three... he is eating over 1000 ml per day.  He is the least patient of the lot... when he gets tired of a toy or hungry - he expects results.  While Matthew as born with the most hair... Hunter now holds the record for the most hair.  It's hard to tell what color it will be.  His eyes look blue or green and his hair looks brown or maybe even blonde.  He is rolling over in lightening speed and while he isnot crawling yet... he can roll to get himself places or get to a toy he has his eye on.  

Matthew is very friendly and sweet.  He's catching up with his brothers.  He's starting to eat better and better.  He actually has eaten more than Dylan the past two days.  haha.  We do our best to feed him every 2 hours during the day just so he gets more food in him.  The more he grows the more his lungs will heal.  He is doing great and also rolling over. His head control is good and he's getting stronger and stronger. He loves to cuddle and be held.  He also has both his grandmothers love of music.  He is so happy when we turn on music.  He is a very observant little boy.  He doesn't just play and bang on his toys.  He looks intently and studies the different parts of the toys.  I always say he has the face of an angel.  There is just something about him that is just so angelic... or maybe it is just knowing all that he has been through with this heart surgery.  

This boys are little miracles and we are having so much fun watching them grow.   

As for Guy and myself - we are doing great.  Some days we get tired but we always remind ourselves that it is better than the alternative.  We love having three boys and we are so glad they made it through the rollercoaster ride the first few months of their lives.  We are blessed.