Mother's Day in a big way in Vienna

By DENISE DICK

denise_dick@vindy.com

VIENNA

Joani Reardon does everything in threes — three feedings every four hours, three baths a day and three times as many diaper changes.

On March 8, the township woman gave birth to triplets, Daniel Ryan, William Patrick and Lucy Christine. They joined big sister Grace, 3.

Learning their family would grow by three instead of one was a surprise for the couple as multiples don’t run in their families. They’ve decided that four children is enough.

Today is Mother’s Day, and although her children are too young to mark the occasion, their dad, Tim, planned to put something together. But Joani says they’ll likely stay close to home.

No matter the day, she has a lot to do.

“Each feeding takes at least an hour and a half,” Joani said.

Key to getting everything done while maintaining her sanity is keeping to a schedule and relying on the support of family.

Tim’s mother, Cynthia Reardon, helps during the day, and Joani’s sister, Ann Pasquerilla, spends several nights a week at the couple’s home to help with the night feeding, allowing Tim to sleep.

“I do the 5 o’clock feeding,” Tim said.

Then he goes to work. Big sister Grace helps by comforting the babies when they cry.

Grace had to adjust to sharing her parents’ attention, but mom and dad say she’s a great big sister.

“We have a lot of support,” Joani said.

Tim’s co-workers at Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, Ohio, organized a diaper shower, giving enough diapers to last about a year.

“Both being accountants, we counted them to figure out how long they’ll last,” Joani said.

At about 4 pounds and just more than 2 months old, the babies already are showing some individual personality.

The babies were born at one-minute intervals with William coming first.

He’s already showing some big-brother tendencies, tensing up when one of his siblings cries as if he wants to help. Lucy came next and doesn’t shy from nudging her brothers if they get in her way. Even in the womb, ultrasounds showed her sprawled out.

Daniel usually demands to be fed first.

Joani doesn’t get a lot of sleep but says with so much to do for the babies, she doesn’t notice being exhausted.

She acknowledged, though, that she falls asleep soon after lying down at night.

“If I were to lie down, I’d probably fall asleep in two seconds,” Joani said.

The most challenging part of having three babies is keeping to that schedule. If one feeding is late, it throws off the whole day.

“The best part is — with all four kids – seeing what miracles they are,” she said.