By Jolene FarleyThe Dave and Dawn Leenderts household swelled by three after the birth of triplets last week but things are running smoothly, according to the couple. "They’ve pretty much stuck to their four-hour (feeding) schedule," she said. "They train them up in Intensive Care (nursery) pretty well," Dave said.The triplets joined a big brother, Dawson, who turned three this month. Perinatologist Dr. William Watson, a specialist in multiple births, delivered the babies on Saturday, Aug. 5, by scheduled cesarean section at Sioux Valley Hospital, Sioux Falls. With a due date of Sept. 12, Dawn was 34 weeks, and four days into her pregnancy."It was getting too much for me," she said. "I was having trouble walking and sleeping and I was having headaches." There were 25 people in the delivery room, including the Leenderts and their three babies."So that little room was pretty crowded," Dave said.An amniocentesis was done before the cesarean section to ensure the babies were mature enough to deliver. Donovan was born at 9:22 a.m. weighing 4 pounds, 7 ounces; Danette was born at 9:23 a.m. weighing 4 pounds, 5 ounces; Drew was born at 9:24 a.m. weighing 4 pounds, 12 ounces. The triplets had few health problems, so they were allowed to come home about four weeks sooner than expected. Donovan has a slight heart murmur that doctors say he’ll outgrow. Drew, who came home Tuesday, stayed in the hospital longest because he wasn’t eating as well as the other babies, according to Leenderts. The couple says now he is the best eater of the three. "He decided he wasn’t going to get left behind," Dave said. The babies wake up at midnight and 4 a.m. for feedings, but are on almost identical schedules because of their hospital stay. The couple has play yards set up in their living room for the infants to sleep in. They hope to use these sleeping arrangements until the babies are at least three months old. "We haven’t got the whole system down yet on our sleeping quarters," Dave said. "We’re getting through this stage."The first night Danette and Donavan were home from the hospital, they both cried until Dawn switched on a light in the living room.The babies are used to the noise and lights in the intensive care nursery so darkness and silence actually kept them up.Between the three babies, 25-to-30 newborn size diapers are used a day. The couple said they are able to tell the babies apart. Danette is easiest — because she is the only girl. Donavon has a darker complexion, and different face shape than Drew.The babies also have different tones when they cry. Drew, who cries loudest, is easily distinguishable. The other two have different cries, but the couple hasn’t learned the difference yet.Different personalities are also evident in the young triplets. Danette is more active than her two brothers. "She squirms around a lot, kicks her legs," Dave said. Drew is laid back and Donavon likes to look around.The couple has tried to recruit help with the babies during the day."We try to arrange somebody for every day, or at least for a feeding or two," Dawn said. The babies are scheduled for their first doctor’s appointments next Tuesday. Dawn won’t take all three of the infants to the appointments alone. "Dad has to come on those days," she said.
