7:21, 7:22, and 7:23 am on Friday, July 28, 2000 changed Sally and Douglas Woomers’ lives forever as triplets Micah, Isaac, and Samuel Woomer were born.

The three boys were delivered at Altoona Hospital by Dr. Patricia Hoyne, one of Tyrone’s Distinguished Alumni.

In addition to the new feeling of excitement, Sally had concerns that were triple compared to most ordinary mothers.

“[I worried] first and foremost [about] their health. [Then] finances: I worked full time before they were born and our family was going to double in size. We realized early on that I would have to quit my job. [Then, finally,] the day to day issues of taking care of three babies at one time. Through all of the fears and worries, we learned that even though we didn’t have everything under control, God did!” said their mom and TASD administrative assistant, Sally Woomer.

Before the triplets, Sally already had a son, Lucas, now 24, who was going to have a big responsibility being a new older sibling.

“Oddly enough, before he knew that I was having triplets, [Lucas] told his grandmother (my mother) that he wanted three brothers. I don’t remember exactly how we told him, but he was fine with it. He has always been a great big brother,” Sally said about her first born.

With a summer birthday, the Woomers’ parents decided to hold their sons back in order to make sure they were ready for school.

“I’m kinda glad she didn’t [push us forward] because I enjoy the friends I’ve made for sure. I wouldn’t want any other friends,” said Micah.

Their friends are also glad to be apart of the boys’ lives.

“The thing I will miss the most about Micah and Isaac and all of my friends will just be hanging out in our classes and at lunch everyday. We will hopefully still hangout when we can in the coming years. They all have been great friends over the years and helped make the transition of a new school easy. We all have such a close bond,” said senior Andrew Pearson, who has known the triplets for seven years and has often been confused as the third sibling instead of Sam.

However, mixing their names and confusing them as people doesn’t bother the boys anymore.

They all admitted they experienced conversations where they were thought to be one another.

“I’ve probably had hundreds of conversations where they thought I was Isaac, and I never told them I was not Isaac,” said Micah.

Sam agreed, saying how people have called him and compared him to Lucas.

“People always forget that Sam is our brother. Or they’re’ always saying I can tell Sam apart because he doesn’t look anything like you guys. I think I hear that a million times. People forget that Sam’s our brother because he acts a lot differently than Micah and I,” Isaac said.

One of the most challenging aspects of the “triplet life” is quantity. “Three of everything at the same time…from potty training, to science fair projects, to learning to drive, to graduating from high school, and lots and lots of laundry!” said Sally Woomer.

The Woomers had their own opinions on the cons of life as a triplet.

Micah immediately responded: “Car insurance,” while Sam and Isaac expressed their desire for more privacy and quiet time.

Additionally, being compared to one another has its disadvantages.

“We’re compared to each other. I will compare myself to Isaac because he’s probably the perfect person to compare myself with,” Micah added as a downside.

Despite the disadvantages, the boys agreed that they wouldn’t want it any other way.

“I have a great relationship with my siblings and some people don’t have a very good relationship with their brothers and sisters, but I have a great relationship with them and I’ll always have that the rest of my life and I’m gonna probably need them when I’m older,” Isaac said.

“I’m so used to [being a triplet]. To me, it’s just funny because it catches them off guard. I know like if I’ve ever needed something these two would have my back,” said Sam.

The triplets have a special connection that regular siblings don’t have.

“Around each other, I feel that they have their own language where they just speak in mumbled voices,” said senior Nick Kosko, who has been a friend of Micah and Isaac’s since elementary school.

Having triplets has been a joy for Sally.

“I love seeing the special bond that they share. They all usually know what is going on with the others so if there is something that I need to know, one of them will usually “spill the beans.”  I also love having a full, chaotic house (most of the time),” stated Sally.

Having shared a bedroom for 18 years, all three have gotten used to each others’ company.

“I’m so used to sleeping with them. They make a lot of noise. It’s weird whenever I go somewhere else and I’m by myself in a room sleeping because it’s so quiet,” Isaac stated.

One fact most don’t know about the Woomers is that they sleep with a rain sound machine. Their mom started them on it from a young age and now none of them can fall asleep without it.

Within their room, Micah and Isaac pointed out that Sam has the messy side of the room, while they tend to be more tidy and clean.

Reflectively, it’s evident that Micah and Isaac are more similar to each other, while Sam follows different interests.

“Sam is the most country boy out of all of them. Micah likes video games more than the others and Isaac is probably the most athletic,” said Kosko.

As they have gotten older, the triplets have each gained their own sense of identity

“It would be kind of annoying having people always getting me and my brothers mixed up if we were identical. But I think it would be cool to have two really close brothers and friends,” added Pearson on his take of what being a triplet would be like.

After high school, Micah and Isaac plan to commute to Penn State Altoona, studying accounting and biomedical engineering, respectively. Sam plans to enter the workforce using the skills that he has learned in the Precision Machining Program at the GACTC.

Although for at least the next four years the boys will live at home, they all hope to stick around and live close to Tyrone wherever their lives and careers take them.

Regarding school advice, Sam commented, “All of my friends are going to go their separate ways and I’ll probably never talk to must of my friends after high school, [so] enjoy the time you have with all your friends. I won’t get to see these people after I graduate from high school. I’ll be with [my brothers] forever.”

All three agreed on how important a strong family relationship is.

“Even if we don’t see our high school friends, I’ll still have Micah and Sam. Don’t take that relationship for granted because you know what? Those people, they’re blood, man. They’re gonna be with you the rest of your life. Friends come and go. A sibling’s a sibling, so don’t hold a grudge against a sibling,” stated Isaac.

The Woomer triplets are thankful for the connections they have among their relatives and friends.

“I’d like to thank my mother, father, [and] my grandfather for being great role models for all of us and for taking care of us. [Family] shouldn’t be taken for granted. I really do appreciate them. I’d [also] like to thank my friends and teachers as well,” said Micah.