From left: Michael, 30; Victoria, Michael, Joseph, all 8 ½ months; Christina, 29

Photograph: Imogen Brown

How do you go about taking care of triplets?
CF Well, Mike and I both work full-time. Two live-in nannies help us during the week, and that’s huge. It wasn’t easy to find them! And we have a good support system: Both sets of grandparents live in Staten Island and they’ve been amazing.

How was the nanny search?
CF We interviewed 30 to 40 people, and then let some go because we felt they couldn’t handle the triplets. We’ve been through about ten nannies.
MF One had tuberculosis. Another said that if she didn’t eat at exactly 11am on her first day, she’d be sick. Then she missed lunch and vomited all over our shower. Another woman, well, she was just a little intimidating.

What tricks make life easier for you?
CF I found that the babies are calmed by the sound of the hair dryer, so I actually bought a CD of a hair dryer blowing.

What’s great about raising a family in Staten Island?
CF We love that we have a little backyard for the babies and that one day they’ll be able to play out on the street. And we can’t wait to take them into Manhattan.
MF We want to take them to see The Lion King because we went to that together; and we want them to see the balloons being inflated before Thanksgiving.

What do the two of you do to relax?
CF We’ve gone out a few times for a quick dinner after we put the kids to bed; it’s wonderful just to sit, because I eat the majority of my meals standing.
MF Often, if we’re given a choice between doing something or getting a little rest, sleep wins out because we’re so exhausted all the time.

Any plans to add to the family?
CF I think we’re complete.

—Julia Israel

See previous Family portrait