𝐅𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬 (𝐅𝐘𝐒)

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐒𝐢𝐱

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐒𝐢𝐱

I'm sitting here now, reflecting on how much has happened in such a short span of time. It's hard to believe that just a few weeks ago, I was lying in that hospital bed, holding our three newborns in my arms, crying tears of joy as I realized that my life was about to change forever.

Triplets. Two boys and a girl. It still feels surreal, even though it's already been two weeks since they came into this world. But today, we're sharing our joy with the world—on Instagram, no less.

Dwayne and I had been talking about it for days—how we were going to make this announcement. After all, it wasn't just a small moment. It was something huge, something life-changing.

We had kept everything so private during my pregnancy, only telling our closest friends and family about our plans. But now that the babies were here, and now that we'd had some time to process everything, we felt ready to let the world in on our little miracle.

I remember Dwayne sitting next to me on the couch, his hand resting on mine as we discussed the post. He's always been so thoughtful, and I loved that we could do this together. "How do you want to share it?" he asked, looking at me with that soft smile of his that always put me at ease. "Do you want to say something, or do you want me to do it?"

"I think I'd like to say something," I said, still trying to wrap my mind around the enormity of what had just happened. "But I want it to be perfect."

"I know it will be," Dwayne reassured me. "It's your story too."

And that's what it was. Our story. Our journey as a family.

On October 21, 2024, we became parents to three beautiful children. I remember every moment of their arrival like it was yesterday. The excitement, the nervousness, the overwhelming joy.

It was a whirlwind. I could still feel the rush of emotions as I held each of them in my arms, one by one. First, Aiono Douglas, our firstborn. Then, Anelu Leati, our second son. And finally, our precious girl, Attina Ira.

When we were in the hospital, I was just trying to stay present, trying to focus on the moment. But looking back, I realize now how much that day was filled with love. Every second felt monumental.

I'll never forget the tears I shed when they placed Aiono in my arms—the overwhelming joy, the disbelief that this little life was ours. Then Anelu, so strong and healthy, followed by our sweet Attina. Three lives, each one beautiful and perfect in their own way. And Dwayne was right there beside me, his eyes glistening with pride.

It's funny. When you're in the moment, you can't really think of anything else but your babies. But now, two weeks later, I've had time to reflect. And it's still incredible to think about. How our lives are forever changed. How, in a matter of hours, we went from being just two people—Dwayne and me—to a family of five.

As we sat down to craft the Instagram post, I knew I wanted it to capture that moment of love, the moment we'd become parents. I wanted people to feel the emotions we were feeling, to see how much we'd fallen in love with these tiny humans we created. The triplets' birth wasn't just a major milestone for us—it was a huge part of our story.

Dwayne looked over at me as I typed out the caption. "What do you think of this?" I asked him, showing him the phone.

He read through it, his brow furrowing a little as he thought. I could tell he was carefully considering his words. "It's perfect," he said with a smile. "Just like you."

And with that, we were ready.

We posted a picture of the three of them—Aiono, Anelu, and Attina—wrapped in soft blankets, their little faces just visible enough to show how much they resembled each other. The picture was taken on our second day home, a moment of calm after the chaos of the hospital and bringing them into our home. There was so much love in that picture.

The caption read:

"On October 21, 2024, our lives changed forever. We welcomed three beautiful babies into the world—Aiono Douglas, Anelu Leati, and Attina Ira. They are everything we ever dreamed of and more. Our hearts are full, our family is complete. We are so blessed and grateful for these three little miracles. #triplets #family #blessed"

It felt surreal to share this moment with the world, but I also felt a sense of joy. I wanted everyone to know how incredible this journey has been, even though it felt like it had only just begun. These little souls were now part of the world—and our world—forever.

The response we received was nothing short of overwhelming. Messages from family, friends, and fans flooded in, congratulating us and offering their well-wishes. It felt so beautiful, the way people came together to celebrate this moment with us. I read every comment and message with tears in my eyes, knowing how many people were as happy for us as we were.

But as much as we were basking in the love and excitement of sharing our news, things weren't as easy behind the scenes. Dwayne had to leave for Germany ten days after the babies were born.

He had a movie premiere there that he couldn't miss. I understood, of course, but it didn't make it any easier to have him leave so soon after the triplets arrived. He was my rock, and I didn't know how I was going to manage everything on my own.

Luckily, my mom, Ariel, was there to help. She had flown in right after the babies were born to stay with us for a while. I'm not sure I could've survived those first few days without her. I'll never forget how she stepped in immediately, offering support, help, and encouragement as I tried to adjust to being a mom of three. She made sure I ate, she helped with the babies when I needed a break, and she was just... there.

I remember one particular moment when I was feeling totally overwhelmed. The babies were crying, I was exhausted, and I felt like I had no idea what I was doing. My mom came in, as if reading my mind, and took Attina in her arms. "Let me take her for a bit," she said softly. "You need to rest."

"I'm not sure how I'm going to do this, Mom," I said, my voice breaking. "Three babies... it's a lot."

My mom smiled gently at me. "One day at a time, sweetheart. You don't need to have it all figured out today. Just love them and take care of yourself. The rest will fall into place."

Her words were a balm to my soul. And honestly, they still stick with me. My mom had raised me to be strong, and now I was learning how to be strong for my own children. Dwayne may have been in Germany, but my mom was right there, offering me the support and love I needed when I felt like I was drowning in the chaos of new motherhood.

The next few days passed in a blur of feedings, diaper changes, and trying to catch a little sleep when I could. But it was all worth it. Every sleepless night, every moment of doubt, every tear of exhaustion—it was all worth it to hold those babies in my arms and watch them grow.

Dwayne was able to return a few days later, and we settled into a new routine with the help of our families. It wasn't easy, but it was beautiful. Every day felt like a gift. And with each passing moment, I became more confident in my new role as a mother. I wasn't just Ayra anymore—I was *mom*. And that title, that word, meant everything to me.

The triplets were growing so fast, and each day I saw them becoming more and more unique. Aiono had Dwayne's smile, Anelu had my eyes, and Attina—well, she was the perfect blend of both of us. I could already see their personalities emerging, and I couldn't wait to watch them grow and learn and discover the world together.

As I reflect on everything that has happened in the past two weeks, I am filled with gratitude. Dwayne, my mom, Joe, and our extended family have been such a blessing. We are surrounded by love, and I know that with their help, we will navigate the adventure of raising triplets. Together, we'll figure it all out, one moment at a time.

So, here we are. Our family of five, sharing our joy with the world. It's been an emotional, beautiful, chaotic, and life-changing two weeks. And I wouldn't change a thing. The triplets have already changed our lives in ways we never imagined—and we are so, so grateful.